IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


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1.0 


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■  50     "^™        I^H 

£  n  III2.0 


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Hiotographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14S80 

(716)  B72-4S03 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Conadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductlons  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microrepioductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibiiographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  biblio(r,raphically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  tht  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checited  below. 


0 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I   Covers  damaged/ 


n 


D 


D 
D 


D 


Couverture  endommagie 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurAe  et/ou  pelliculAe 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


D 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I   Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  giographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  inic  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (I.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I      I   Coloured  plates  and/or  illustration^/ 


Planches  et/oii  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serrde  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intirieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
heve  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouties 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  iti  filmies. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppldmentaires: 


L'Institut  a  microfilm*  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  At*  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplai;)  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reprodulte,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mithode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquAs  ci-dessous. 


□   Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 


D 
D 
0 
D 


U 


Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagAes 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurAes  et/ou  pelliculAes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  dicolories,  tacheties  ou  piquAes 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d^tachies 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 


r~~|    Quality  of  print  varies/ 


Quaiiti  inigale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplerr:«ntary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplAmentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Mition  disponible 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slipj,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellen.ent 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6tA  fiimics  A  nouveau  de  fa9on  A 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmd  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

XX 

y 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  hes  been  reproduced  thenks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

D.  B.  Weldon  Library 
University  of  Western  Ontario 

The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


L'exemplaire  filmd  fut  reproduit  grAce  d  la 
g6n6rositiS  de: 

D.  B.  Weldon  Library 
University  of  Western  Ontario 

Les  images  suivantes  ont  6x6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetd  de  l'exemplaire  film6.  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  eacn  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED ").  or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Lea  exemplairps  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
rapier  est  imprimde  sont  filmds  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmds  en  commen9ant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  chaque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  -^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE".  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  fttre 
filmds  dk  das  taux  de  reduction  diffirents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  ciich6.  il  est  tV.m6  d  partir 
de  Tangle  sup6rieur  gauche,  li?  <jauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

I  lli\«'l 

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iliiKAin 

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Class 

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^^VN    ',:l 

•ji-yj 


^■Oii: 


sMiiiisoMAN  iNsriri HON iiLi;i;.a  or  i;tiin(Ha>c;v  ^I 


I  NinoDii  rioN 


STUDY   or  SiON  LAX(U'A(iK 


\Mii\(,  riiK 


NOIiTll  AMi:ill('A.\   INDIAN'S 


/  >    > 


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>/ 


iLLisniAiiM;  Tin:  (iixiiiii:  ^i'i:i:(  ii  oi  mankind 


By    GAF^RICK     MALLERY 


ii]:i:\  1.1   in.i  r.  i  oi .,   r.  s,  ai;m  v 


W  A  S  11  I  N  « ;  1'  ( »  N 

r  ()  V  i;  i;  n  \i  i ;  n  r    r  i!  i  N  i  i  m i    o  i ■  i'  i  c  K 
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aMlTIlSOM'VN  lx\«TlTUT10N lUIKKAlJ  OK  KTIINOLOGY 


INTRODUCTION 


STUDY  OF  SIGN  LANGUAGE 


AMo.NC     IIIK 


I 


NORTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS 


J'fY/  /Af     ^.cj^//////j/nf/4  c/ 


pARRlCK       /VIaLLERY,  f\i^    |^     \^ 

liru.Eu    o,  Emsornav,  \^  I   J/         MAxNKIND 

Wdsliiiiijffi)/,  I).  C. 


I'lmsr  (icl.iioirliiljir. 


I 


By    GARRICK     MALLERY 

liiMivivr  i.ii:iT.  (Mil..,  r.  ,'i.  .\i;>iy 


WASH  I NCTOX 

aovr. kniii;n  r    i'1!inti\«;    oKiicr, 

1  s  s  0 


■■  6  ■.yt-?^ff<ifnm.mt.f:i--  :-";?»*',  '•*.-'  '.<.->-mii?:*^:'^ 


i\ 


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I 


i^iS^fi^f 


BMITIISOMAN  INSTITUT.ON IJUIJKAU  OF  KTllNOIiUGV 


INTRODUCTION 


'III  Tin: 


STUDY  OF  SIGN  LANGUAGE 


AMII.N<1    TIIK 


NORTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS 


ILLUSTRATING  THE  GESTURE  SPEECH  OF  MANKIND 


I 


By    GARRICK     MALLFRY 

iii:i:vi:r  i.ii:rr.  rni,.,  r.  s.  .\i;my 


WASH  I  NCTON 

OOV1".UN:M1;N  I'     IMtlNTINC     OI'I'ICK 
I  S  S  (» 


I-II 


m n  \ .  ••'■'jrttm^  m,tfii:-  -  >MK- 


t   i    ly  U  J 


:f^^^^^t'C?.?*:*:tr;: 


i 


Smithsonian  iNsirTirnoN, 

lli'in;.\i    ui-   IvriiNoLdnv, 
Wiisli'niiilnn,  I).  ('.,  I'lliftiiii//  I'J.  l!SS(l. 

I'lltNt'ii  yciiis  ji;^ii  ctliiiuMrMpliic  n'scarcli  ;iiimii;^-  Nortli  Anicricaii 
liidians  wiis  rKiiiiiKiiccd  li\  nixsclf  ami  mv  iissistaiits  while  iiiakiii"'-  cxiilo- 
rations  (III  tlic  ('«il(ira<li>  K'ivcraml  il>  Iriiditarics.  I'Voiii  tliiil  time-  to  iIk; 
jircscnt  siu'li  iii\ cstij^'atiniis  liavc  liccii  in  [irdi^rcss. 

DiiriiiH- this  time  the  Scci<'tar\  of  the  Sinithsuiiian  liistitiiliuii  jilaci'd 
ill  iiiv  hands  a  lnv^i'  aniniint  ot'  niatfrial  cnllcclrd  1)\  its  cullaliuratdrs 
rtdalinn'  to  Indian  lani;iiaL;(  s  and  nthcr  matters.  U>  lie  used,  in  (•(injunctinii 
with  the  materials  collecteil  under  my  directidii,  in  the  |ire|iai-ati(in  oi'  a 
series  <it'  piililicatiuiis  on  North  Ameriean  l'!tliii(ilo;;\ .  I  n  imrsiiino-  this  work 
two  voliiines  have  already  lieeii  imldished,  a  third  is  in  press,  and  a  niiiiiiier 
ol  others  are  in  coiii-se  <it'  |»re|iaratitiii. 

'I'lie  Work  oriii-inallv  licLiiin  as  an  incident  to  a  yeoiiraiiliical  and  <■»■()- 
loj^ieal  snr\i'y  has  steadily  ;^rowii  in  proportions  until  a  larjiu  niiinlier  ot" 
i'.ssistiiiits  and  collaliorators  an*  enjiayed  in  the  collection  of  materials  and 
the  ])repavation  of  memoirs  on  a  variety  of  snhjects  relating'  to  the  North 
Anierit'jui  Indians.  The  siiliject  iindei'  investifration  is  of  f^reat  inafi-nitude. 
.More  tliMii  live  hnndred  laiij^na^i'es.  heloiigiii;^'  to  ahoiit  seveiitv  di-tiiict 
stocks  or  families,  are  spoken  hy  these  Indians;  and  in  all  other  liranches 
ot'this  ethnic  re^ear(dl  a  like  variety  of  snhjectinatter  exists,  it  will  thus 
lie  se(Mi  that  the  materials  tor  a  systematic  and  comprehensi\-e  treatnieiit  of 
this  snhject  can  only  lie  ohtained  i)y  the  coiiiliined  lahor  of  nian\-  men.  My 
experience  has  demonstrateil  that  a  deep  intt-rest  in  .Vntliropolo;;y  is  widely 
spreail  anioiiy  the  ediicateil  peo[ile  of  the  country,  as  from  ('ver\-  hand 
assistance  is  tendered,  and  thus  valuable  material  is  steadily  accmiinlatiiiii'; 
i)iit  experieiico  has  also  denjuiLstratcd  that  uuich  utl'urt  is  lost  for  want  of  a 


wm 


IV 

|,i(.|MT  coiiiprclu'iisioii  of  the  suLJiM-ts  iiiid  iiiftliodH  of  linTstijfiition  uppcr- 
tiiiiiiii;--  t<.  this  l.nmt'li  of  scii-ntilic  rm'iUTli.  For  this  reason  u  scries  of 
piiinphh't  pulilinitioiis,  (h"si;-iietl  to  "ivc  ussistaiu'O  iilid  (liiV(!tioii  in  thoso 
inV('Sti;;jitions,  has  Iteeii  eonnneliced. 

'I'lie  iirst  of  thi>  series  was  prepared  by  myHclf  and  issued  Milder  thn 
lilh' of  "  Introdiu'tion  to  the  Study  of  Indian  l>an-iini;i-es ;"  the  seeond  Ih 
the  present.  Upon  Si;;ii-Lanjiiia<>i) ;  ami  a  thinl,  l»v  Mr.  11.  C  Yarrow,  I'liited 
States  Army,  desi^iiied  to  incite  impiiry  into  mortnary  (d)servaiices  ainl 
hclicfs  concerniii}i'  the  dead  prcvailiii};-  aiiu.nj^-  the  Indian  trihes,  will  shortly 
be  issued.  Other  publications  of  a  like  character  will  be  prejtared  from 
time  to  time.  'I  liese  publications  are  intended  to  si-rvc  a  somewhat  tem|)o- 
rarv  purpose  until  a  manual  for  the  mo  of  students  of  American  Anthro- 

ptdoyy  is  completed. 

J    W.  POWKLL. 


-1 

i 


i 


m 


INQUIRIES   AND   SUGGESTIONS 


T'I'dX 


I 


SKiN  LANHL'AGK  AMONll  Till:  NOUTII  AMKKICAN  INDIANS. 


JJY  (JARHICK    MAI.M:UV. 


i 


1 


IXTKODITTOUV. 

Tlic  IliircMii  (if  KtliiioIoMy  (if  the  Sinitlisdiiiiiii  IiiHtitutioii  Iwis  in  prcp- 
anitiuii  a  work  ii|>iiii  SiL;ii-Liiii<^iiit;i(!  iiminiji'  the  Xurtli  Aiiiciiciiii  Iiidiaiis, 
and.  fiirtlicf,  iiifcmKMl  to  Itc  an  cxitosiiinii  dt'tlic  <4cstnr('-si)cccli  of  mankind 
tli(irnn;;li  cnon-i'li  to  lie  of  snji'^i-cstivc  ii.v.'  to  stndcnts  of  |iliilolo;:v  and  of 
antliropolo-iv  in  <>'i'i>t'ral.  Tlur  present  paper  is  intended  to  indieatt^  tlio 
scope  of  that  future  pni)lication,  to  excite  interest  and  invite;  coiTesjiond- 
oiK'o  on  tlie  subject,  to  submit  su;><iestioMs  as  to  desirahle  points  a.nd  modes 
of  ohscrvation,  and  to  ^nvo  notice  of  some  facilities  provided  for  descrip- 
tion and  illustration. 

'I'lic  material  now  collecte<l  and  collated  is  sullicient  to  show  that  tlio 
importance  of  the  subject  deserves  exhaustive  research  and  presentation  li\' 
scientilic  methoils  instead  of  heinj^'  cunfiiu'd  to  the  fra^nentarv,  indelinite, 
and  incidental  pul)lications  thus  far  made,  which  have  never  yet  i>een  united 
for  comparison,  and  are  most  of  them  dillicult  of  access.  Many  of  the 
(h'.scriptions  j^iven  in  the  lists  of  earlier  <hite  than  those  contril)Uted  durin--- 
the  past  year  in  response  to  spi-cial  request  are  too  ciut  and  iuc(»mpleto  to 
assure  the  perfect  reproduction  of  the  sign  intended,  while  in  others  the 
very  idea  or  object  of  the  sign  is  loosely  (expressed,  so  that  for  thorough 
and  .satisfactory  exposition  they  recjuire  to  be  both  corrected  and  supple- 
mented, and  therefore  the  coiiperation  of  competent  (d)servers,  to   whom 

1    .S    I. 


mtammmm 


»> 


On.IKCT  OV  TlIK  1MM':81:NT  woijk. 


tliis  piunplilct  is  addrossiMl,  and  to  wlioiii  it  will  bo    mailed,  is  nr<,'(ntly 
iv(  (nested. 

The  [jiiltlication  will  mainly  consist  of  a  collation,  in  the  form  of  a 
vocabnlarv,  of  all  antlienti'*  sij^'ns,  iiudndinji'  sig-nals  n\ade  at  a  distanci',  with 
their  description,  as  also  that  of  any  specially  associated  laeial  expression, 
set  forth  in  lani,^^)^^  intended  to  ho  so  clear,  illustrations  bein;.;' added  when 
necessary,  that  the\-  can  be  reproduced  by  the  reader.  The  descriptions  con- 
tiibnted,  as  also  the  explanation  or  conception  occnrrin^'  to  or  asetM'tained 
bv  tile  contribntors.  will  ln>  !.',iven  in  tlu'ir  own  words,  with  their  own  illns- 
trations  when  furnished  or  wIkmi  they  v;\]\  be  di'sin-ned  tVoui  written  descrip- 
tions, and  ahvavs  with  iuilividnal  credit  as  well  as  responsiliility.  Thesiji-ns 
arranged  in  the  vocabulary  will  bo  compared  in  their  order  with  thosi-  of 
deaf-nuites,  with  those  of  foreiii'U  ti'ibes  of  nuMi,  whether  ancient  or  modern, 
and  with  the  suiiLi'ested  i-adicals  of  laufi'uay'es,  I'or  assistance  in  which  com- 
p;.risons  travch'rs  and  scludars  are  solicited  to  contril»nte  in  the  same 
manner  and  with  tlu'  same  credit  aliove  nu'ntioned.  Tlu'  deductions  and 
Lii'uerali/.ations  of  the  editor  of  the  wovk  will  be  separate  from  this  vocabu- 
lar\,  thounii  1)ascd  u])on  it,  and  some  of  those  expressed  in  this  preliminary 
paper  nia\'  be  nioililied  on  i'ull  information,  as  there  is  no  conscious  desire 
tit  maintain  an\  preconceived  theories.  lntOlli<;'ent  criticisms  will  be  i^rato- 
fully  received,  considered,  and  i^iveu  honorable  place. 

n.'ACTK  Ai,  vAiJi:  OF  sKiN  :-AN(;rA(;i;. 

"^rhe  most  obvious  .ipplication  of  Indian  sion-lanj^ua^'e  will  for  its 
practical  utility  depend,  to  a  lary-e  extent,  U])on  the  correctness  of  the  view 
submitted  b\  the  present  writer,  'n  opposition  ti>  an  opinion  ^cnerallv 
entertaineil,  that  it  is  uit  a  iner(>  semaphoric  repetition  of  traditional  siji'- 
nals,  whether  or  not  [lundy  arbitrary  in  their  oriL:in,  but  is  a  cultivati'd 
art.  foundeil  upon  pvinci[)les  whicdi  can  \)v  reailil\'  appliecl  l)y  travelers  and 
otlicials  so  as  to  ^ive  tiiem  much  independeui'e  of  professional  interpreters — 
a  (lass  danii'erouslv  <leceitful  and  trick\'.  I'ossessini.;'  this  art,  as  distin- 
liiiisheii  iVom  a  limite'l  list  of  memorized  niolions,  |he\  woulil  accomplish 
for  thenisel\('s  the  desire  of  the  I'rince  of  I'oiitus,  who  I)eiip'(l  of  Nero  an 
accom]ilishe(l   pantomimist    I'roni   the  luiman  theater,  to  interpret  amon;^'  his 


'''^:^m^(^m  %^h^M¥.  ^^te' 


I'KArTICAL  \  AH  !•:  OK  SKIN  hANdf  AdE.  3 

nifuiv-toiiytie*!  siilijccts.  This  iidviintaj^'o  is  not  nicicly  (licorcticnl,  l.iit  Iiiis 
l)e('ii  (Iriuoiistratcd  to  he  |)riicti(';il  hy  ;i  prolessor  in  a  dcal'-nuitc  cc  Ik'yc 
niio.  lately  visitinu;-  several  itf  tlie  wild  (rihes  of  the  plains,  iii;id(>  hinisell" 
nmurstood  anioiiy-  all  of  tlnMu  withont  kiiowin;^-  a  word  of  any  ol  theii- 
lanj^-iiaj-'cs :  nor  wonlil  it  only  ohtain  in  connection  with  American  trihes, 
beiny- apitlicahle  to  interconrse  with  sava^'es  in  Africa  and  Asia,  thonoli  it 
is  I'.ot  pn'tended  to  fnllill  hy  this  ajivncy  the  schoolmen's  dream  of  an  (vcn- 
menii-al  mode  of  I'onnnnnicatiou  between  all  i)et>i)les  in  s))ite  of  their  dia- 
leclic  divisions. 

tSijin-lan,i>uai:e,  lieiny  the  mother  utterance  of  natnre,  poeticalK-  stxled 
by  LvMAuriNi:  tin  visible  altitiules  of  the  soul,  is  superior  to  all  others  in 
that  it  pei-niits  every  uni'  to  lind  in  nature  an  iman'c  to  expn'ss  his  thonL;hts 
on  tli(>  most  iiredfnl  matters  intellii;t'nti\-  to  :.n\-  other  iierson,  thou'di  it 
nmst  ever  heiKH'forth  be  inferior  in  the  power  of  formnlatinji-  thonL;hts  now 
attained  by  words,  iiotwithstaudini^-  the  boast  of  lioscins  that  he  conid 
convey  more  varieties  ot'  s<Mitnuenr  by  <i-estnre  alone  than  ( 'icero  coidd  in 
oratory. 

It  is  true  thai  i^estnres  excel  in  <iTai)liic  and  dramatic  effect  applied  to 
narrati\i>  and  to  rhetorical  exhibition;  but  speech,  when  liiyhlv  cultivated, 
is  better  adapted  to  ^-enerali/.ation  ,ind  abstraction;  thert'ibre  to  loyic  and 
metaphysics.  Some  of  the  enthusiasts  In  sl^'us  have,  however,  contended 
iliat  this  inifavorable  dislinction  is  not  from  an\-  iniu'rent  incapabllit\-. 
but  because  their  euniloynieut  has  not  been  continued  luito  perfection,  and 
that  if  they  liail  I)een  elaliorated  by  the  secular  labor  devot<'d  to  spoken 
LHi:.;iinL;'e  they  ini;;lit  in  resources  and  distinctness  ha\-e  exceeded  inan\- 
foiMus  ol'  till'  latter.  (lAi.i..vii>;:r,  I'luvr,  and  others  may  be  ri:.;ht  in  assi-rl- 
in^'  that  man  <'ould  by  his  arms,  hands,  and  liiij^'ers,  with  facial  and  l)odil\- 
acciMUnation,  expi'ess  any  idea  that  could  be  cotivevi'd  b\-  woi'ds.  'Idle  pro- 
cess regard  inn-  abstract  ideas  is  only  a  variant  i'rom  that  of  oral  speech,  in 
which  the  words  lor  the  most  al)stract  ideas,  such  as  law,  virtue,  inlinltude. 
and  inunortality,  are  shown  by  .Max  MCi.t.hu  to  have  been  derived  and 
di'duced,  that  is,  abstracted  i'rom  sensuous  impressions  In  the  use  of 
siL;ns  the  countenance  ami  manner  ;is  well  as  the  tenor  decide  whether 
objects  tlu'msehes  are  intended,  or  the  i'orms.  positions,  (pialilies.  and 
motions  ol    other  oi)iects   which   are   su<>'::csted,   and    sii>'ns    for   moral   and 


4  All)  TO  DECIIMIKK  riCTOCHAIMIS. 

intc'lloctiml  ideas,  foniulod  on  iiiialofiios,  are  eoiimion  all  over  the  wprld  as 
well  as  anioii«>-  dcaf-iiiutes.  ( "oiirepts  ot"  the  iiitanj^ible  and  invisible  are 
only  Icanu'd  tliroiinli  percepts  of  tan-Millie  and  visible  objects,  wlietl.  t 
finally  expressed  to  the  eye  or  to  the  ear,  in  terms  of  siyht  or  of  sound. 

It  will  be  ailniitted  that  tlu;  elements  of  the   si;^ii-lan<;nayo  are  truly 
natmal  and  universal,  Ity  recurring  to  which  the  less  natural  sinus  adopted 
dialectically  «ir  for  expedition  can,  with  perhaps   some  circundocution,  be 
explained.     This  power  of  inter|)reting  itself  is  a  peculiar  advantage,  for 
spoken  languages,  unless  explained  by  gestures  or  indications,  can  oidy  be 
interpreted   by  nu-ans  of  some   other  spoken  language.     There  is  anrither 
characteristic  of  the  gesture-speech  that,  though  it  caiuiot  be  resorted  to  in 
the  dark,  nor  where   the  attention   of  the   person  addressed  has  not  been 
otherwise  attracted,  it  has  the  comitervailing  benefit  of  use  when  the  voice 
could  not  b(i  employed.     When  highly  cultivated  its  rapidity  (m  familiar 
sul))ects  exceeds  that  of  speech  and  ap^iroaches  to  that  of  thought  itself. 
This  statement  may  be  startling  to  those  who  only  notice  that  a  selected 
sjiokeu  word  may  convey  in  an  instant  a  meaning  for  which  the  motions  of 
even  an  expert  in   signs  may  retpiire  a  nuudi    longer  time,  but  it  nuist  be 
considered  that  oral  speech  is  now  wludly  conventional,  ami  that  with  the 
similar  deveh.pment  of  sign-langua<.e  conventional  exjiressions  with  hands 
and  iK.dy  could  be  made  more  (piickly  than  with  the  vocal  organs,  becuu.sc 
more  organs  could  be  worked  at  once.     Witlu.ut  such  supposed  develop- 
ment the  habitual  comnuuu'cation  lietween  deaf-mutes  and  among  Indians 
u>iug  sinus  is  perhaps  as  rapid  as  lietwcen   the   ignorant  class  of  speakers 
upon  the  same  subjects,  and  in  many  instances  the  signs  would  win  at  a 
trial  of  spec(l. 

Apart  from  their  practical  value  for  use  with  living  niendiers  of  the 
tribes,  onr  .--live  semiotics  will  sinvly  help  the  arclueologist  in  his  stmly 
of  native  picture-writing,  the  sole  foini  nf  aboriginal  records,  for  it  was  but 
one  more  step  to  fasten  upon  bark,  skins,  .,i  rocks  the  evanescent  air-pictures 
that  still  in  laguu'uts  or  carvings  preserve  their  skeleton  outline,  and  in 
their  ideography  approarli  tiie  rudiuuMits  of  a  piionetic  alphabet,  (ie.stnre- 
language  is,  in  fact,  i  ■!  only  a  picture-language,  but  is  actual  writing, 
though  dissolving   and  sympathetic,  and  neither   alphabetic   nor  phonetic. 


■mii^mm%:^0^?^^-^^m^^^«"^'-^''''  ■ 


TIIK  SYNTAX  OF  SI(!NS. 


5 


'riioiii^li  written  cliiirjicters  are  \n  our  minds  associated  with  speeeli,  they 
are  sliown,  by  successful  cniploynient  in  hiero^lyplis  and  hy  educated 
dcaf-nuites,  to  be  representative  of  ideas  without  the  intervention  of  somids, 
and  so  also  are  the  outlines  of  si^ns.  This  will  1)0  more  a))pareut.if  the 
motions  expressinji'  the  most  jjrominent  feature,  attri])ute,  or  function  of 
an  object  are  made,  o'  supposed  to  be  made,  so  as  to  leave  a  luminous 
track  impressibh'  to  the  '?ye,  separate  from  the  members  ]n-oducin^-  it.  'J'he 
actual  result  is  an  innn;ueriate  g'raphic  representation  of  visible  objects  and 
qualities  which,  invested  with  substance,  has  become  familiar  to  us  as  the 
rchus,  and  also  appears  in  the  form  of  heraldic  blazonry  styled  punniufr 
or  "cantiny."  The  reproduction  of  gesture-lines  in  the  picto^Ta))hs  made 
by  our  Indians  seems  to  have  been  most  frecpient  in  the  attempt  to  con- 
vey those  sul>jective  ideas  which  were  beyond  the  ran<,''e  of  iin  artistic  skill 
limited  to  the  direct  representation  of  (d)jects,  so  that  the  part  of  the  picto- 
tj^raphs,  which  is  still  the  most  dillicult  of  interpretation,  is  precisely  the 
One  which  the  study  of  sig-n-lang-uage  is  likely  to  eludicate.  In  this  con- 
nection it  may  be  mentioned  that  a  most  interesting  result  has  been  obtained 
in  the  tentative  comparison  so  far  made  betAveen  the  gesture-signs  of  our 
Indians  and  some  of  the  characters  in  the  Chinese,  Assyrian,  ^Fexican,  and 
Runic  alphabets  or  syllabaries,  and  also  with  Egyptian  hieroglyphs. 

While  the  gesture-utterance  presents  no  other  part  of  grammar  to  the 
philologist  besides  syntax,  or  the  grouping  and  sequence  of  its  ideograjdiic 
pictures,  the  arrangement  of  signs  when  in  ccmnected  succession  atfords 
an  interesting  comparison  with  the  early  syntax  of  vocal  language,  and 
the  analysis  of  their  original  conceptions,  studied  together  with  the  liolo- 
phrastic  roots  in  the  speech  of  tlu'  gesturers,  may  aid  to  ascertain  some 
relati(Ui  Ix'twceii  concrete  ideas  aiul  words.  Meaning  does  not  adhere 
to  the  phonetic  presentation  of  thought,  while  it  does  to  signs.  'I'lie 
latter  are  doubtless  more  flexible  and  in  that  sense  more  mutable  than 
words,  but  the  ideas  attached  to  them  are  persistent,  and  therefore  there 
is  not  nuu'h  greater  metamorj)hosis  in  the  signs  than  in  the  cognitions. 
The  further  a  language  has  been  dev(do])ed  from  its  primordial  roots, 
which  have  been  twisted  into  forms  no  longer  suggesting  any  reason 
for    their    original    selection,   and   the  more  the    primitive   signiiicance   of 


6 


All*  TO  A.MKIMCAN  J.IN(illSTK'S. 


ils  words  lias  disappoaivd,  tlio  fewer  points  of  contact  can  it  retain  with 
signs.  Tlic  liinlicr  lani^-uajres  are  more  precise  because  the  conscious- 
ness of  tlie  derivation  of  most  of  tlieir  woi'ds  is  lust,  so  that  they  liavo 
becoui(;,couiitt'rs,  oood  tor  any  sense  a,i>Teed  upon  ;  but  in  our  native  dia- 
lects, which  lia\('  not  advanced  in  that  direction  to  the  denree  exhibited  by 
those  of  civilized  man,  the  coimection  between  tlie  idea  and  the  word  is 
only  less  obvious  than  that  still  unbroken  between  the  idea  and  tlio 
siyn,  and  they  remain  strongly  affected  by  the  concepts  of  outline,  form, 
place,  position,  and  feature  on  wdiich  gesture  is  founded,  while  they  are 
sinnlar  in  their  fertile  condjination  of  radicals.  For  these  reasons  the  forms 
of  sinn-laiiguaue  adojjted  by  our  Indians  will  bo  of  special  value  to  the 
student  of  Ami'rican  linguistics. 

A  comparison  sometimes  drawn  between  sign-language  and  that  of 
our  Indians,  foumled  on  the  statement  of  their  connnon  poverty  in  ab.stract 
expressions,  is  not  just  to  either.  Allusion  has  before  been  made  to  the 
capacities  of  the  gestui-e-speech  in  that  regard,  and  a  deeper  study  into 
Indian  tongues  has  shown  that  they  are  by  no  means  so  conlined  to  the  con- 
crete as  was  once  believed. 

Indian  language  consists  ..f  a  series  of  words  that  are  but  slightly  differ- 
entiated parts  of  speech  following  each  other  in  the  order  suggested  in  the 
mind  of  the  speaker  without  absolute  laws  of  arrangement,  us  its  sentences 
are  not  coni])letely  integrated.  The  sentence  necessitates  parts  of  speech, 
and  parts  of  speech  are  ])ossible  only  when  ji  language  has  reached  that 
stage  where  senteiux-s  are  logically  constructed.  The  words  of  an  Indian 
t.aigne  l)eing  synthetic  or  unditferentiated  l)arts  of  speech,  are  in  this  respect 
strictly  anah.gous  to  the  gesture  elements  which  enter  into  a  sign-language. 
The  study  of  the  latter  is  therefore  valuable  for  comparison  with  the  words 
of  the  speech.  The  one  language  throws  nnudi  light  upc.u  the  other,  and 
neither  can  be  studied  to  the  best  advantage  without  a  knowledge  of  the 
other. 

OlfKilX  .VXI>  K.XTKNT  OF  Or^STintE-SPEKCII. 

It  is  an  accepted  maxim  that  nothing  is  thoroughly  underst i  unless 

its  beginning   is   known.      Whil..  this  ean  uev.-r  be  absolutely  accomplished 
for   sign-language,  it  may  l)e  traced  to,  an.l  claims  gen -rai  interest  Irom, 


P'M!y.''g%fi>'"|'^CTl| 


% 


OUKilN  AM)  KXTKNT  OK  (iKSTrWi:  Sl'KKCII. 


its  illiistnitiou  of  the  iuiciciit  iiitc'rconimunication  of  inaiikiiul  l)y  f'C.sture. 
Miir.y  jirj^iiinciits  Imvo  hww  iuhhit'cd  iiiul  more  may  Ijc  presented  to  prove 
that  tlie  latter  preeeiUnl  articiihite  si)eei'h.  The  corporeal  moveiueiits  of 
the  lower  animals  to  exprest*,  at  least,  emotion  have  been  correlated  with 
those  of  man,  and  cli.ssified  l)y  D.vuwiN' as  explicable  on  the  princiidcs  of 
servicealjle  associated  habits,  of  antithesis,  and  of  the  constitution  of  the 
ni^'vo'is  system.  A  child  employs  intelliji'ent  j^-estnres  lon^^-  in  advance  of 
sjjeech,  althon^h  very  early  and  persistent  attemjjts  are  made  to  jjiive  it 
instruction  in  tlie  lattcn-  but  none  in  the  former;  it  learns  lanjvuag'e  oidy 
tln\>ugh  the  medium  of  si<i;-ns  ;  and  lony  after  familiarity  with  speech,  consults 
the  <;'estu)(  -  and  facial  expressions  of  its  parents  and  nurses  as  if  to  trans- 
late or  explain  their  words ;  which  facts  are  important  in  reference  to  the 
l)iologic  law  that  the  order  of  de\el(»puient  of  the  individual  is  the  same  as 
that  of  tlu'  species.  Persons  of  limited  vocabulary,  whether  foreigners  to 
the  t(m<>ue  employed,  or  native,  but  not  accomidished  in  its  use,  even  in 
the  midst  of  a  civilization  where  gestures  are  deprecated,  Avhen  at  fault  for 
words  resort  instinctively  to  physical  motions  that  are  not  wild  nor  mean- 
ingless, but  picturesque  and  significant,  though  i)erhaps  luade  by  the  ges- 
turer  for  the  lirst  time  ;  and  the  same  is  true  of  the  most  fluent  talkers  on 
occasions  when  the  exact  vocal  foi-mula  desired  does  not  at  once  suggest  itself, 
or  is  not  satisfactory  without  assistance  from  the  physical  machinery  not 
embraced  in  the  oral  apparatus.  Further  evidimce  of  the  unconscious  sur- 
vival of  gesture-language  is  alTorded  by  the  ready  and  involuntary  response 
made  in  signs  to  signs  when  a  man  with  tlie  speech  and  habits  of  ci\  iliza- 
tion  is  brouylit  into  close  contact  with  Indians  or  deaf-mutes.  Without 
havina'  ever  before  seen  or  made  one  of  their  signs  he  will  soon  not  oidv 
catcli  the  meaning  of  theirs,  but  produce  his  own,  which  tiiey  will  likewise 
comprehend,  the  power  seemingly  remaining  latent  in  him  until  called  forth 
by  necessity.  The  signs  usecl  by  unlnstructed  congenital  deaf-nmtes  and 
the  facial  ex})ressions  and  gestures  of  the  congenitally  Ijlind  also  present 
considerations  under  the  heads  of  "heredity"  and  "atavism,"  of  some  weight 
when  the  subjects  are  descended  from  and  dwell  among  people  who  had 
disuses  f  '^stures  for  generations,  l)ut  of  less  consetpience  in  cases  s\u'h  as 
that  mentioned  by  Cardinal  Wiskman  of  an  Italian  blind  man  who,  curiously 


8 


AIMiCMHNTS  K()|{   IMMOlflTY  OF  (iKSTI'lM]. 


cuonyli,  used  the  jjrcciso  siji-ns  iiuidc  hy  his  iK'i^^'lihors.  It  is  further 
jisscrtcd  th;it  sciiii-idiotic  I'hihh'cu  who  oiiiiiiot  Ix'  tiiii'rht  luoro  than  tho 
iiicn-st  riidimciits  of  speech  ciiii  receive  m  (•(iiisi(h'rahh' iuiiotiut  of  kiiowKMhro 
thruiiul,  siuiis  and  express  themselves  hy  them,  and  tliat  siilferors  from 
apliasia  continue  to  use  appropriate  f^-'estures  after  their  words  are  uncon- 
trolhible.  In  cases  when'  men  havi'  been  lonj^'  in  solitar}'  eonlinement, 
Iteen  ahan(h)ned,  or  otluM-wise  have  become  iscdated  from  tlieir  felhnvs,  tlioy 
have  lost  speech  entirely,  in  wliich  thev  reciuired  to  be  reinstnieted  tln-ou<>li 
f«-estnres  in  the  same  maimer  that  missionaries,  ex})h)rers,  and  shijjwrecked 
mariners  became  acquainted  witli  tonji'ucs  before  tudaiown  to  civilization. 
These  facts  are  to  be  considered  in  connection  with  the  <j;eneral  law  of  evo- 
lution, that  in  cases  of  degeneration  the  last  and  highest  acquirements  aro 
lost  first. 

The  fact  that  the  deaf-mute  thinks  without  jdionetic  expression  is  a 
stumbling-block  to  Max  :\ri-LLER's  ingenious  theory  of  i)rinntive  speech,  to 
tlie  ell'ect  that  man  had  a  creative  faculty  giving  to  each  con(:eption,  as  it 
thrilled  through  his  bi-ain  for  the  first  time,  a  special  jdionetic  expression, 
which  faculty  became  extinct  when  its  necessity  ceased. 

In  "onjocturing  the  iirst  attenq)ts  of  man  or  his  hypothetical  ancestor 
at  the  exjjression  either  of  percepts  or  concejits,  it  is  diflicult  to  coimect 
vocal  sounds- with  any  large  number  of  objects,  but  readily  conceivaldo 
that  there  should  have  been  resort,  next  to  actual  touch  (of  which  all  tho 
senses  may  be  modiiications)  to  suggest  the  characteristics  of  their  forms 
and  movements  to  the  eye— fully  exercised  before  the  tongue— so  soon  as 
the  anus  and  lingers  became  free  for  the  recpiisite  simulation  or  portrayal. 
There  is  no  distinction  l)etween  pantomime  and  sign-language  exce])t  that 
the  former  is  the  parent  of  the  latter,  which  is  more  a])breviate<l  and  less 
ob\ious.  Pantomime  acts  movements,  reproduces  forms  an.l  positions,  pre- 
sents pictures,  and  mainfests  enn.tions  with  greater  realization  than  any 
other  mode  of  utterance.  It  may  readily  be  supposed  that  a  trogdcdyte 
man  would  desire  to  connnunicate  the  finding  of  a  cave  in  the  vicinity  df  a 
jun-e  po,.l,  circled  with  soft  grass,  and  shaded  l)y  trees  bearing  edible  fruit. 
Xo  natural  sound  is  connected  with  any  of  those  objects,  but  the  positi.m 
and  size  of  the  cave,  its  distance  an.l  direction,  the  water,  its  quality,  and 


wmm^mmmmmmm^^^m 


(iKSTIIti;  ONCK  COI'IOfS  UKYOXI)  WOIMKS. 


9 


fiinoiuil,  the  vcnliiiit  circliiii;-  cariict,  ainl  tlic  kind  aiHi  lici^lit  <it"  tlit'  trees 
cuiild  liii\(!  Keen  niiide  knuwii  hy  jtiiiitoiiiiiiie  in  tlie  days  ot'  flie  niaiiinioth, 
if  articulate  spcecli  liad  not  then  lici'ii  estahlislicd,  |tr('cisely  as  Indians  or 
deat-nnites  wonld  novv'  connnunicate  tlie  news  l»y  tlie  same  aj^'ency  <»r  hy 
siji'ns  pdssessino' ii  natural  aiialofry. 

Indepondent  dI'  most  o\'  tlie  above  considerations,  Imt  tVoin  tlieir  own 
I'ailures  an<l  disconiancies,  liniiuisti*'  scholars  have  recently  decided  that 
))otli  tli<'  "how-wow"  and  the  '' dinji-doni4' "  theories  are  nnsatist'actorv; 
that  the  search  lor  inntative,  oiioinatopoetic,  and  directly  -,  xpressive  sounds 
to  explain  the  origin  of  human  speech  has  heen  too  ex(dusive,  and  that  many 
primordial  roots  of  lanu;naj;e  have  heen  founded  in  the  involuntary  soiuids 
acconipanyin*;' certain  actions.  As,  however,  the  action  was  the  essential, 
and  the  consecpient  or  concomitant  sound  the  accident,  it  would  he  expected 
that  ii  representation  or  fei;4'ned  reproduction  of  the  action  woidd  have  heen 
used  to  ex|)i'ess  the  iih 'a  before  the  sound  associated  with  that  action  could 
have  been  sejiaratcd  from  it.  The  visual  onomatojueia  of  ^i'estures,  which 
even  yet  have  been  subjected  to  but  slioht  artificial  corruption,  would 
therefore  serve  as  a  key  to  the  audible.  It  is  also  contended  that  in  th(> 
pristine  da  \s,  when  the  sounds  of  the  oidy  Avords  yet  formed  liad  close  con- 
nection with  objects  and  the  ideas  directl}'  derived  from  thi'm,  si^ns  were 
as  much  more  copious  for  conununication  than  speech  as  the  sight  end)races 
more  and  more  distinct  characteristics  ((f  objects   than   does  the  sense  of 


l'h(»  ])reponderance  of  uithority  is  that  man,  when  in  the  possession  of 
all  his  faculties,  did  not  choose  Ijetween  voice  and  <>-e.sture,  both  being-  orig- 
inall}'  instinctive,  as  they  both  are  now,  and  never,  with  those  faculties,  was 
in  a  state  where  the  one  was  used  to  the  absolute  exidusion  of  the  other. 
With  the  voice  he  at  lirst  inntated  the  few  sounds  of  nature,  while  with  ges- 
ture he  exhibited  actions,  motions,  |)ositions,  forms,  dimensions,  directions, 
and  distances,  and  tlu'ir  derivatives.  It  would  appear  from  this  unequal  di- 
vision of  ca[)acity  that  oral  sp  ech  remained  rudimentary  long  after  ges- 
ture had  become  an  art.  With  the  concession  of  all  purely  imitative  sounds 
and  of  the  sjiontaneons  action  of  the  vocal  organs  under  excitement,  it  is 
still  true  that  the  connection  between  ideas  and  words  generally  depended 


^ 


10 


M<>l>i:i!N   USI-:  OF  (IKSTIK'KS  AM)  SKiNS. 


upon  n  roiii|)!i('t  1)ot\voon   tlio  siH-aker  iuul   Iioiirer  wliit-li  prosiippdsos  tlio 
oxistciici-  of  ii  prior  iikxIc  of  (•oniiiiuiiii'atioii. 

I'di'  i1k'  pivsciit  purpose*  tlic'fc  is,  liowovor,  no  need  to  (k-tcniiiui'  upon 
the  priority  lu-twi'iMi  coninuiiiicatioii  of  icU'iis  by  luKlily  motion  and  by  vocal 
articulation.  It  is  c'nou->Ii  to  admit  tliat  tlio  connection  bctwcon  thciu  was 
s(»  early  and  intimate  that  the  vestures,  in  the  wide  seiuo  indicated  of  pre- 
sentinu'  ideas  under  jjliysical  forms,  had  a  direct  formative  eflect  upon  many 
words:  that  tiiey  exhibit  the  earliest  C(Uulition  of  the  human  miml ;  are 
traced  from  tlie  farthest  aiiticpiity  amonf,^  all  pi'(»i)1es  possessinj;-  records; 
are  universally  prevalent  in  the  savaoe  sta<^e  of  social  evolution;  survive 
ajireeably  in  the  scenic  pantomime,  and  still  adhere  to  the  ordinary  s|)eeeh 
of  civili/ed  man  b}'  motionr.of  the  face,  hands,  head,  and  body,  often  invol- 
untary, often  pui-posel}-  in  illustration  or  emphasis. 

MODKl.'N  rSE  OF  GKSTrHKS  AN!)  SKiNS. 

The  i)ower  of  the  visible  <-esture  relative  to  and  its  intluence  npim 
the  words  of  modern  oral  si)eecli  are  perhaps,  with  the  cpialiiicatic.n  hero- 
after  indicated,  in  inverse  proportion  to  the  general  eidtnre,  hut  do  not 
bear  that  or  any  constant  proportion  to  the  development  of  the  several 
lanj^naj-cs  with  which  gesture  is  still  more  or  less  associated  They  arc 
atVected  more  by  the  sociological  conditions  of  the  speakers  than  by  the 
degree  of  excellence  of  their  tongiu'.  The  statement  is  frequently  made 
that  gesture  is  yet  to  sonu-  highly-advanced  languages  a  necessary  modify- 
ing factor,  and  that  only  when  a  language  has  become  so  artificial  as  to  bo 
eompletely  expressible  in  written  signs— indeed,  has  been  renu^deled  through 
their  long  familiar  use— can  the  bodily  signs  be  wholly  dispensed  with.  The 
story  has  been  told  by  travelers  in  many  i)arts  of  the  world  that  various 
languages  cainiot  ])e  clearly  understood  in  the  dark  by  their  pos.sessors, 
using  their  mother  tongue  between  themselves.  The  evidence  for  this  any- 
where is  suspicious,  and  when  it  is,  as  it  often  has  been,  asserted  about 
some  of  the  trijjes  of  North  American  Indians,  it  is  absolutely  false,  and 
nuist  be  attril)uted  to  the  error  of  travelers  who,  ignorant  of  the  dialect, 
never  see  the  natives  except  when  trying  to  make  ihemselves  intelligible  to 
their  visitors  by  a  practice  which  they  have    found  by  experience  to  havo 


^3^ii^^»as?«w%i>t>^¥-- 


INDIAN  TONdl'KS  NOT  DHI'KNDKNT  ON  (UlSTCUi;. 


11 


liccii  siicccssfiil  with  striiii^crs  t<»  tlicir  tnii^iic,  or  pciiiMps  when  tlu-y  ;ir»( 
"iiiirdiii^' ii^niiist  liciii^- n\frlic;inl  l)\~ (ttln-rs.  In  tact.  inili\  idiiiils  of  tlin>() 
Aiiii'riciui  trilit's  s|)cciiill\-  in>tiiiic('(l  in  tlicM,'  n-ports  as  iinal)lt'  tu  convcrso 
witliunt  ;:cstnrc,  ul'tcn,  in  llicir  iloincstic.  nlntiitlim,  wrap  tlicmsclvcs  np  in 
riilx's  or  lilankfts  with  only  lti('athili<^'  hoh'S  Ix'lorc  the  wn^*.^,  so  that  no  part 
of  the  lto(l\-  is  sct-n,  and  chatter  away  lor  hours,  tcHin^'  \o\\<j:  stories.  If 
In  da\li;:ht  thc\-  thns  \ohnitarily  d('|iri\t'  tlN'Mis'-K cs  of  the  possihiht}'  of 
Hiakinji-  si^iiis.  it  is  ch-i'-  that  their  prefei'cnce  for  talks  ai'onnd  tlie  lire  at 
ni<'ht  is  exnlicahU-  hv  vei'\-  natural  reasons  without  the  one  attril)Utod. 
The  inference,  once  carelessly  made  from  the  tree  nsi-  of  gesture  hy  some 
of  \\w  Xuma  stocdv,  that  their  toni^iu-  was  too  meaner  for  use  without 
sif^iis,  is  refuted  1)\  tiie  now  ascertained  fact  that  their  vocabulary  is 
remarkahlv  copious  and  tlu.'ir  parts  of  s[)ee(di  better  dill'erentiated  tiian  thoso 
of  niaiiv  people  on  whom  no  such  stijiuia  has  lieeu  allixed.  All  theories, 
indeed,  based  upon  tlie  sujjposed  poverty  of  American  lanj^uayes  must 
be  abandoned. 

The  true  distinction  is  that  where  ])eoplo  speakinj;  precisely  the  same 
dialect  are  not  numerous,  and  are  thrown  into  constant  contact  on  eipnil 
terms  with  others  of  dilVerinj;-  dialects  iuul  lanyuaj^'os,  j;'esture  i.s  nece.ssaril)' 
resorted  to  for  converse  with  the  latter,  and  remains  as  a  habit  or  accom- 
plishment amon^^  themselves,  whih*  lar<,'e  bodies  enjoyinj.c  connnon  spee(di, 
and  eithei-  isolated  from  forei<,niers,  or,  when  in  contact  with  them,  so  (himi- 
nant  as  t<»  compel  the  learning  and  a(hiption  of  their  own  tou^-ue,  become 
impassive  in  its  delivery.  The  undemonstrative  Kn<^lish,  lonj;-  insular,  and 
now  rulers  when  spread  over  continents,  may  be  compared  with  the  ])rofusely 
{^•esticulatin<r  Ttalians  dwelling  in  a  maze  of  dialects  and  subject  for  centu- 
ries either  to  foreign  rule  or  to  the  iiiHux  of  stranjijers  on  whom  they  de- 
pended. lvin,i>-  Ferdinand  returning'  to  Naples  after  the  revolt  of  1.S21,  and 
tindino-  that  the  boisterous  nudtitude  would  not  allow  his  voice  to  be  heard, 
resorted  successfully  to  a  royal  iuhlress  in  signs,  giving  reproaches,  threats, 
admonitions,  pardon,  and  dismissal,  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  assem- 
bled lazzaroni,  whi(di  rivalry  of  Punch  would,  in  Lon(h>n,  have  occasioned 
measureless  ridicuh'  and  di.sgust.  The  dit'ferencc  in  what  is  vaguely  styled 
temperament  does  not  wholly  explain  this  contrast,  for  the  performance  was 


12 


TIIK  TSIM'K  .lAIMION. 


crtMlitiiblc  liotli  to  tlu;  rciidiiu'ss  ot  the  Kiii^'  in  ;in  ('iii(ii;cii(\-  midI  to  llic 
njitiK^ss  of  Ills  people,  the  niaiii  distiiutioii  Ix'iii;^'  tliiil  in  lliily  tlicrc  wiis  ii 
rccoji-iiizcd  and  cidtiviitt'd  IjinjiUiijiC  ot"  si^ns  loiiu-  disused  in  (ireiit  Uritidn. 
As  the  nninher  of  diidects  in  iiny  district  ilecreiises  so  will  liie  ficstures, 
tlioiii^h  doulttless  tliere  is  mIso  iidluence  from  the  fiict  not  nierel\-  tliiu  ii  hin- 
j''un<j;'e  has  been  re(hu'ed  to  iiiid  nioililied  Ity  writing',  Imt  that  peojde  who 
are  aceustonied  ;;'enerally  to  ri'ad  and  write,  as  are  the  I''njilish  and(ier- 
iiians,  will  after  a  time  think  and  talk  as  they  write,  and  without  the  av- 
e(>mi)ainnieuts  still  persistent  amon<;'  Hindus.  Arahs,  and  the  less  literate 
Kuropeinis. 

^lany  instanees  are  shown  of  the  discontinuaiu'e  of  jjesturo  speed i 
with  no  development  in  the  native  lanfjuaf^e  of  the  j;esturers,  hut  from  tlus 
invention  for  interconmHinieation  of  one  used  in  common.  The  Kalapuvas 
of  Southern  Orefj^ou  until  recently  used  ii  Hi{,ni-lanj>ua<>-e,  but  have  <irad- 
nally  adopted  for  foreig'u  intercourse  the  composite  ton<,''ue,  conimonh'  called 
thoTsinuk  or  Chinook  jargon,  which  i>robablyj. rose  for  trade  purposes  on  the 
(Vdundjwi  Kiver  before  the  advent  of  Kuropeans,  fouiuled  on  the  Tsinuk, 
Tsihali,  Xutka,  etc.,  but  now  enriched  by  English  and  French  terms,  and 
have  nearly  forgotten  their  old  signs.  The  prevalence  of  this  nictngrel 
speech,  originating  in  the  same  causes  that  i)roduced  the  pigeon-English 
or  liiif/Ka-Jhiiiai  of  the  Orient,  exiilains  the  marked  scantness  of  si<>'n-lan'nia<'e 
among  the  tribes  of  the  Northwest  coast.  No  explanation  is  needed  for 
the  disuse  of  that  mode  of  comnuinication  when  the  one  of  surroundino* 
civilization  is  recognized  as  necessary  or  important  to  be  acquired,  and 
gradually  becomes  kiu^wn  as  the  best  connnon  medium,  even  before  it  is 
actually  s[)oken  by  many  individuals  of  the  several  tribes. 

IS   INDIAN    SIGN  LAN(ii:AGH  rNIVi:i;SAL  AND   IDKNTICAb  ? 

The  assertion  has  been  made  by  many  writers,  and  is  currently  re- 
peated by  Indian  traders  and  s(Mue  Auny  oOicers,  that  all  the  tribes  of 
North  America  have  had  and  still  use  a  contnion  and  idci/ticdl  si<>n-lan<nia<'e 
of  ancient  origin,  in  which  they  can  comnunncate  freely  without  oral  assist- 
ance. Tlie  fact  that  this  remarkable  statement  is  at  variance  with  some  «tf 
the  principles  of  the  formation  and  use  of  signs  set    forth  by  Dr.  'i'vi.ou, 


mmmm^m^m^^^Mi-':^^^''' 


IS  INDIAN  SKIN  l-AN(il'A(iK  INIVIMtSAI-  AND  IDKNTICALJ         13 


wliiisc  iiiiinitiililf  cliiiptcrs  on  <>(,'.stur('-.si)(-'('i'li  in  liin  "  licscarclu's  into  tlio 
K;iil>'  lli>t(iry  of  .Miiiikiml "  liiivc  inn  <;r('iit  dcjircc  prompted  tlio  i)r('HC'nt 
in(|iiiri('s,  docs  not  iippiiir  to  ]m\v  iiltiiictcd  tlic  attention  (»f'  that  eminent 
untliority.  He  receives  tlie  report  witliont  (piestion,  and  fornndaten  it,  that 
"flic  same  si;4iis  serve  as  a  medinm  ot'  converse  from  llndson  J 'a}' to  tlio 
(Jnlf  ol'  Mexico."  Its  trntli  can  only  he  estahhshed  h}-  carefnl  comparison 
of  hsts  ol'  vocahnhn-ies  of  sij>ns  taki'ii  nnder  test  conditions  at  widely  dit- 
t'ereiit  times  and  ]ilaces.  l''or  lliis  pnrpose  lists  hiv(,'  h(!en  collated  Ity  the 
writer,  lalvcii  in  dill'crent  parts  of  the  conntry  at  several  dates,  from  the  last 
eentnrs  to  the  last  month,  comprisinji'  to^^'etiier  more  than  ei;^ht  hundred 
sij>iis,  man\'  <>!  them,  however,  hi'inji'  mere  variants  or  synonyms  lor  the 
same  oltject  or  (piality,  and  some  heinj^'  of  small  value  from  uncertainty  in 
description  oi'  autlmrit}',  or  both. 

Tlu)  result  of  tlu!  ('(dlation  and  analysis  thus  far  made  is  that  the  al- 
loyed existence  of  diii'  universal  and  absolute  siyn-lan<^'mi;4'e  is,  in  its  terms 
of  ^cnei'al  a>sertioii,  (au*  of  the  many  popular  errors  prevailing'  about  our 
al)ori;.;'ines.  In  numerous  instaiices  there  is  an  entire  discrepam-y  between 
the  si'-ns  made  b\  dilVerent  bodies  of  Indians  to  express  the  same  idea  ; 
and  it  any  of  these  are  rej^arded  as  determinate,  or  even  wid.dy  conven- 
tional, and  used  without  fu/ther  devices,  they  will  fail  in  conveyiuji'  the 
desired  impression  to  any  one  unskilled  in  j^'esture  as  an  art,  who  had  not 
formed  the  same  precise  coneej)tion  or  been  instnu-ted  in  the  arbi'  ai'y 
motion.  I'roljal.'ly  none  of  the  gestures  tiiat  are  found  in  current  use  are, 
in  their  origin,  conventional,  but  are  only  portions,  more  or  less  elaljorate, 
of  oltvious  natural  pantomime,  and  those  proviny  eilicient  to  convey  most 
successfulK  at  any  time  tiie  several  ideas  became  the  most  widely  adopted, 
lial)le,  however,  to  l)e  snpei'seded  by  yet  more  a])propriate  conceptions  and 
delineations.  The  skill  of  any  ti'ibe  and  the  coi)iousness  of  its  sij^'us  are 
jH'ojJortioned  to  the  accidental  ability  of  the  few  individuals  in  it  who  art 
as  custodians  and  teachers,  so  that  the  sevend  tribes  at  dilVerent  times  vary 
in  their  de;.iree  of  prolii'iency,  and  therefore  both  the  i)recis(,'  mode  of  semi- 
otic  expression  and  the  amount  of  its  ;j;'eneral  use  are  always  tluctuatin;.>'. 
All  the  siuns,  even  those  classed  as  iimate,  were  at  some  time  invented  bv 
some  one  person,  tliou;.;h  by  others  simultaneoush'  and  independently,  and 


14' 


i'i.'(»(  i:ss  sAMi;  AS  amonc;  i»i;ai' mi  ti;s. 


liiiiliy  i\\'  tliriii  liccimic  turyottcli  iilid  were  iciiiMiihd.  Tlirir  |H'('\  iilclicc* 
iiml  |i(iiiiiniciic('  were  ilrtcrniiiicd  li\  ilic  i'\|i(  ricn.c  uf  tlicir  iitilit\ ,  iiiiil  it 
\N('iil(l  III'  lii;:lil\  iiitcrcsliiiu  to  iisccrtniii  liow  Imin  n  time  wiis  iT(|iiii'f(|  (nv 
;i  (li>tiiictly  new  riiiui|iiiiiii  (ir  fxrciitioii  in  >x;i\\i  cmrnicv,  liccoiiic  "tlin 
liisliiuii,"  set  to  .'|iciik.  over  ii  Ijiiyc  jiiiit  of  the  coiitiiiciit.  iiiiil  to  hr  Hiip- 
|iliilitc(l  li\-  fi  new  "  iiioilc  " 

'I'lic  |)ioccss  is  |trcfis('ly  the  siiiiic  lis  fillioiio'  tlic  (Iciit'-iiiiltcs.  (  )iic  of 
those,  liviiin'  iiiiionj;'  Ills  spciikiiiu'  rdiitivcs,  nuiy  iiiMiit  si-jiis  wliicli  tlio 
liitlcr  iirc  t!iii;^lit  to  iiii(lcrstiiiiil,  tlioiin||  striiiij-X'fs  soiiictiincs  will  not,  bc- 
ciiiisf  ilicy  may  lie  liy  iio  iiiciiii^  tlif  tittfst  cNiircssioiis.  Slioiilil  a  ilo/cii  (»»• 
more  (li'at'-iiiiitcs,  iiosscsscd  diily  ol'  siicli   cnulf  si;>ns.  conic  to^ctlicr,  tUoy 

will    he   iililc   at    Ill's!    to   roiiiinilliicatr    only  on  a  leu    ( nioli  snhjccts,  hilt 

the  lliunhcr  ot'  those  and  the  nc.nei-d  scope  of  eX|il'ession  will  he  contiiiiuillv 
eiiliiri^cd.  They  will  also  resoit  to  the  iii\eiitioii  ^i  new  sii^iis  lor  now 
ideas  as  they  arise,  which  nill  he  made  iiitellinil,!,..  it'  nece-sarv,  tliroii;^!! 
the  illustration  and  delinitioii  ;:iven  l.y  si^ns  t'onnally  adopted,  so  that  tlio 
iittest  sif-ns  will  he  evolved,  .liter  mutual  trial,  and  will  survive.  A  iimlti- 
plieatioiiot'the  nuiuiiers  coiitined  ton(.tlier,  cither  of  deaf-mntes  orof  liidi.uH 
whose  speech  is  diversi',  will  not  decrease  the  resiiltiii;.'  iiiiirormitv,  tliounh 
it  will  increase  hotli  the  copioiisiiess  and  the  precision  of  the  vocjihiilaiy. 
The  only  one  of  tlie  correspondents  of  the  present  writer  who  reiiiahis 
demonstratively  unconvinced  of  the  diversifies  in  Indian  si"'n-laii«'-ua«>'('. 
lierhaps  hecame  prejudiced  when  in  char;ic  of  a  reservation  where  Arap- 
ahos.  Cheyeniies.  and  Sioux  had  for  a  coiisiderahle  time  heeii  kept  secluded, 
so  tar  as  could  he  done  hy  li'overninental  power,  from  the  outer  world,  and 
where  naturally  tlu-ir  sinus  were  inodiiied  >,.  ;is  to  become  common  propertv. 

Sometimes  si;iiis.  doiihtless  once  air-pictuivs  of  the  most  striking'  out- 
line of  an  object,  or  of  the  mo.st  characteristic  features  of  an  acti(.n,  liiivo 
in  time  become  abltreviated  and,  to  some  extent,  c(.iiventioiialized  aiiionrr 
members  of  the  same  tiibe  and  its  immediate  Jiei^dibors,  and  have  not  be- 
eonie  common  to  them  with  cli^er  tribes  siirply  because  the  form  of  al)bre- 
viation  has  heen  peciilia-  In  other  cases,  with  the  same  coiiceiitioii  and 
atfempt.'d  characteri/atic.n,  another  y.-t  eipially  appropriate  delineation  lias 
been  selected,  and  when  both  of  the  ditfeiiiig  (hliueations  have  been  iibbro- 


r.MSKs  or  Tin:  i;iM;(»M:<>rs  iti.i'nitT. 


I.') 


viiitcil  tlif  (llvorslty  i.H  vastly  ilMTfiiscd.  'Hie  (»ri;;iiml  roiici  ]itiuii,  hciii^'' 
iiMlc|Hii(li'nt,  has  lu'ccssarily  also  varii'd,  hfcaiisc  all  ohjccts  have  several 
cliaracteristies,  ami  what  stniek  niie  set  ol'  |ie(»|ile  as  the  most  distiiietive 
(»f  these  would  iiot  always  so  impress  another.  From  these  reasons  we 
cannot  expert,  without  lioulile.  to  understand  the  et\iiio|oMy  ,>f  all  the 
si<.'ns,  hein;:'  less  ricii  in  ancillary  material  than  were  even  the  old  philolo- 
eists,  who  ■guessed  at  Latin  and  (ireek  derivations  hefore  ihoy  were  assisted 
hv  Sanscrit  and  other  Aryan  roots. 

It  is  not  dilli.Mdt  to  conjecture  some  of  the  causes  of  tho  report  umler 
considc'ration.  I'Aplorers  and  ollicials  are  naturally  l)rou;iht  iiUo  contact 
more  (doscK  with  those  persons  ot"  the  trihes  \isiteil  who  are  experts  in  tho 
si'  'n-laneiiayc!  than  with  their  other  mendters,  and  tho.se  experts  an^  selected, 
on  account  of  their  skill  as  interpreters,  as  {i'uides  to  accompany  the  visit- 
ors. The  latter  also  .seek  occasion  t(»  he  pn-sent  when  the  si^nis  are  used, 
whether  with  or  without  words,  in  intertrihal  coum-ils,  and  then  the  same 
class  of  experts  sire  the  orators,  tor  this  lon^i'  exercise  in  ;^vstin'e-speech  has 
made  the  Imliaii  politicians,  witli  no  special  <-irort,  m;isters  of  tlie  art  only 
ac(piired  hv  oiu"  pn1)lic  speakers  after  lahorious  apprenticeship  hefore  their 
mirrors.  'The  whole  theory  and  practice  of  si<>'n-lan^'ua;^'e  lieinji'  that  all 
who  uudeistanil  its  jtrinciples  can  make  themselves  mutiudly  intelli^ilde. 
the  fact  of  the  ready  comprehension  and  response  annaii;-  all  the  skille(l 
•'■esturers  <>'ives  the  imia'ession  of  a  couimoii  code.  I'^in'thermore,  it  tho 
explorer  learns  to  use  any  of  the  si^^iis  used  h\-  any  of  the  trihes,  he  will 
prohahlv  he  under.stood  in  any  other  by  the  same  class  of  persons  who  will 
surroimd  him  in  the  latter,  thereby  conlirmin;^'  him  in  the  "nnivers.d" 
thiMiry.  Those  of  the  tribe  who  are  loss  skilled,  but  who  are  not  noticed, 
mij4ht  be  nnal)le  to  catch  tlu-  meaning-  of  siji'iis  which  liavt-  not  l)een  actu- 
all}'  tau^'ht  to  them,  just  as  ij^iiorant  persons  amoii;^'  us  camiot  di'rix-e  any 
sense  from  ne\\  1\ -coiiu'd  words  or  those  stranj^'o  to  their  habitual  vocabu- 
lary, which  linf-uistic  scludars  would  instantly  understand,  thouf^h  never 
before  heard,  and  mi^ht  afterward  adopt. 

In  order  to  sustain  the  positiiui  taken  as  to  the  existence  of  a  <i'eueral 
.system  instead  of  a  uniform  code,  admittinj^-  the  •■•eneric  unity  while  deiiy- 
in<>-  the  speciiic  identit\-,  and  to  show  that  this  is  not  a  distinction  witlatut 


1(5 


Al'TIIOIMTIKS  F()|{  SKIN'S  ('ITKI>. 


i)  (lin'crciu'c,  ii  nuinhcr  of  spccimciis  nvo  cxtractcil  tVoiii  the  pivsciit  t'ollec- 
tioii  of  siy-iis,  wliicli  ;irc  also  in  soiiio  cases  coiiipaivd  with  those  of  deilf- 
imites  and  witli  j^'estiires  made  1)\-  otlier  ]ieo[)les. 

At   l'llOKITli;s    I'OK    Tllh;    SlliNS    CITi:!). 

The  siyiis.  desi"'i|)ti'>ns  itf  whicli  are  suhiiiitted  in  the  present  paper,  are 
taken  from  some  one  or  moi-e  of  the  followinji'  authorities,  viz: 

1.  A  li>t  |)repared  hy  Wiu.iAM  I  HNiiAK,  (hited  Xatelie/.,  Juno  30,  ISOO, 
collected  from  trilies  tlu'n  west  of  the  Mississippi,  l»nt  prol)ahlv  not  from 
those  very  far  west  of  that  rivi'r,  jmhlished  in  the  Transactions  of  the  Amer- 
ican Philosophical  Society,  \(tl.  vi,  as  read  January  16,  1801,  and  conmui- 
nicated  by  Thomas  .letl'erson,  j)resident  of  the  societv. 

2.  The  one  pultlished  in  181';!  in  "An  Account  of  an  I'^xpedition  from 
I'ittslturnh  to  the  liocky  Mountains,  performed  in  the  wars  1S1!)-1820. 
\W  order  of  the  Hon.  J.  ('.  Calhoun,  Secretary  of  War,  under  the  command 
of  :Maj.  S.  11.  Long,  of  the  I'nitc'!  States  Topooraphical  Kn<-ineers."  (Com- 
monly called  James'  Long's  Ivxpedition.)  This  appears  to  have  been  col- 
lected chiefly  by  Mr.  T  Say,  from  the  I'ani.  and  the  Kansas,  ( )toes,  Mi.s- 
souris,  lowas.  Umalias,  and  other  southern  branches  of  the  -iTeat  Dakota 
faniilv. 

.").  The  one  collected  by  I'riiuc  .Maximilian  von  Wikh-Xkuwied  in 
l.S;)-J-34,  from  the  Clu-yeime,  Slioshoin.  Ankara,  Satsika,  and  the  Absandci, 
the  Mandans,  llitlatsa,  and  other  Xortherii  Dakotas.  This  list  is  iu)t  i)ub- 
lished  in  the  Mn-lish  edition,  but  appears  in  the  (Jermau,  Coblenz,  183!), 
and  in  the  French,  Paris,  Is  In.  lilliJiooTaphic  relereiice  is  often  made  to 
this  distini-iiisheil  (.xploivr  a>  "  Prince  .Maxinulian,"'  as  il'  there  were  not 
many  pos>essors  of  that  christian  name  amon^-  princelv  families.  For 
bre\ity  the  referiMice  in  this  p.ipei-  will  he  "  M'/Vr/."' 

4.  The  small  collection  of  J.  (,.  Kom,,  made  .about  the  middle  of  the 
l)re,sent  century,  am.m-  the  v  Ijihwas  and  their  iieinhbors  around  Lake 
Superior.  Publishe<l  in  his '•  Kitchij-ami.  Wan.ierin-s  around  Pake  Sui)e- 
rior,"  London,   ISCo. 

0.  That  of  the  distiiij-'uished  ex])lorer,  ('apt  P.  V.  P.iimon,  C(dlected  in 
18uU-(;i,  from   the   tribes  met  or  learned  of  ,,n   the  overland  sta^c  route, 


'v^Jv^^.»i„«)Sr-*Sr*4'! 


:;«»;.«>ttr«<j, 


MTIIOIMTIHS  I()i;  SKINS  riTKl). 


17 


iiichidin^'  Soutlicrii    Dakotiis,  Ttcs,  Slioslutiii,  AvMpnlios,  C'nnvs,  Tiini,  imd 
Al)iiclu's.     Tills  Is  (■(nitaiiK'd  in  "  Tlic  City  ortlic  Siiints,"  New  York,  \H&2. 

i;.  A  iiiiiiiiis{"si()t  list  In  the  iidsscssion  of  llic  Hurciiii  nf  Htlniol(»<>-v, 
rontriliiilcd  1)V  Hrcvt't  Col.JAMr.s  S.  ]?iv'isi',i\,  .Miijor  Second  ("mvmIi'V.  I'niti'd 
States  Arni\.  proliahh  pn'iiavud  in  ISTN-TH,  and  cliictiy  taken  from  the 
("rows,  Shoslioiil.  and  Slonx. 

7.  A  list  i.repaivd  in  dnly,  ISTlt,  l»y  ^Iv.  Fkank  II.  Ciisiuxc;,  (.f  tlie 
Sniltlisonlan  Instiinilon,  from  eontinned  interviews  with  Titelikematski,  an 
intelliii-eni  ( 'he\ cniie,  now  I'mployed  at  that  Instltntion,  Avhose  «i'estnres  wei  .■ 
anaKzed,  their  descilption  as  niaiU'  dietated  to  n  ])liononTii|)lier,  and  tlie 
more  ncnei-le  si^ns  also  photographed  as  made  Ix'fore  tlie  camera.  The 
name  of  tlie  Indian  in  reference  to  this  list  is  nsed  instead  of  that  (d'  the 
collector,  as  .Mr.  Cnsliinii'  has  made  other  contributions,  to  he  separately 
nottMl  with  his  name  [\>v  distincti\'eness. 

S.  A  valuable  and  illustrated  contribution  from  Dr.  W.vsniNGToN  Mat- 
■nii'.ws.  Assistant  Sur;.;-eon  Tinted  States  Army,  author  of  "  KthnouTapliy 
and  riillolo,i;\  ol'  the  llldatsa  India. i>,"  &c..  lat(dy  prepared  from  his  notes 
and  recollections  of  sl^ns  observed  dnrlni;'  his  lon^-  service  amoiii;'  the  In- 
dians ot'  the  I  pper  .Missouri  and  the  plains. 

;i.  .\  report  of  Pr.  W.  .1.  Hoi'imax,  from  observations  amony-  the  Te- 
ton I>akota>  while  Acting-  .\ssistant  Suru-eon,  I'nited  Stati's  Army,  and  sta- 
tioned at  (iranil  iJlvei-  A-'eiicy,  Dakota,  during  IST'J-T.'). 

10  A  special  contribution  from  Lieut.  II.  U.  Lk.mi-v,  Third  Tinted 
States  .\rtlller\ ,  conii)iled  from  notes  and  observations  taken  by  him  ill 
1S7T  among  the  Northern  Ara[)ahos. 

11.  Smile  prellmlnarv  notes  lately  received  from  Kev.  Tavi.oi;  F.  I'iAi.v, 
inisslonar\   among  the  Ziiiii,  upon  the  signs  of  that  Itody  of  Indians. 

T_>.  Similar  notes  from  Uev.  A.  ,1.  lIoLT,  Denisoii,  Tex.,  res[)ectliig  the 
Comanche  signs. 

i;;.  Similar  nolo  from  Very  Ivov.  Kdwakd  Jacicki!,  I'olnte  St.  Ignace, 
Slicli  ,  respecting  the  Ojiliwa. 

14.  A  .-peclal  list  from  Uev.  d  Owr.x  Doicskv,  missionary  at  (^malia 
Anencv,  Nebraska,  from  ol)servatlons  lately  maile  among  the  INudcas  and 
0  ma  has. 

L'  s  L 


18 


DIVKKSK  CONCKI'TIONS  .\XI>  IIX IICI  TIONS. 


If).  A  lottor  from  J.  \V.  roWKi,!,,  esq,.  Iiidiiin  siipcriiifciMlciit,  Hritish 
('oluiiibiii,  ivlatiny  to  his  o1)scTViitioiis  ninoiit;'  the  Kutiiic  ;iii(l  otlicrs. 

1(5.  A  special  list  from  1  )i-.  ( 'ii  \i'm:.s  K  McCiirsxi'v,  Artiiin'  Assistant 
Surgeon  United  States  Army,  of  signs  coliectcd  among  tlu'  1  >akota.s  (Sioux) 
near  Foi't  JVinictt,  hakota.  during  the  pi'csent  winter. 

17.  A  connnunieation  fn)m  llev.  d.\.\ii;s  A  {iii,KiM..\\,  \Vhit(!  Kartli, 
^[inn.,  relating  to  signs  observed  among  the  ( )jih\vas  during  his  long  period 
of  missionary  duty,  still  continuing. 

IS.  A  connnunieation  from  lirevet  Col.  Richakm)  I.  Doix;!-:,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Twenty-third  Infantry,  I'nited  States  Arniv.  author  of  "  Tho 
TMains  of  the  Great  West  and  tlieir  lidial)itants."  i\:c.,  relating-  to  liis  lar<.'o 
experienoo  with  the  Indians  of  tiie  prairies. 

1!».  A  list  contributed  by  Rev.  (J.  L.  I)ki.'kkmuugii,  of  Lapwai,  Idaho, 
giving  signs  obtained  at  Kamiah,  and  used  by  the  Sahaptin  or  Nez  Forces. 

20.  Information  obtained  by  Dr.  \V.  J.  IIoi'fm.wx,  in  assisting  the  pres- 
ent writer,  from  X.vtsiies,  a  Pah-l'te  chief,  who  was  .,ne  of  a  delegation  of 
that  tril)e  to  Wa.shingtctn,  in  January,  ISSO. 

l»l.  Information  from  :\rajor  J,  M.  IIawoktii,  s|)ecial  agent  of  the  In- 
dian IJnrean,  relating  to  the  ('oniaiiches. 

The  adjunction  to  the  descriptions  of  the  name  of  the  particular  author, 
eontributor,  or  i)erson  in.m  whom  tiiey  are  severally  taken  (a  plan  which 
will  1)0  pursued  in  the  linal  i.ubH.^ation)  not  oidy  fm-nislies  evidence  ot 
iiuthenticity,  but  indicates  the  locality  and  time  of  observation. 

INSTANCES  OF  DIVERSK  (ONCEI'TIO.NS  AM)   EX  ECITIOXS. 

Some  e.xamples  have  been  selected  of  diver.se  conceiXions  and  execu- 
tions for  the  same  objt'ct  oi-  thonniit. 

(Jhicf.   Seven  distinct  signs. 
.       1.   Foreling.M-  of  right  hand  cvxtended,  pa.sed   perpendi.mlarlv  down- 
ward, then   tm-ned    upward    in  a   right   line  as  high  as  the  head."  ^Lotu,.) 
"  Rising  abo\-e  otiiers." 

■->.    With  foivilnger.. fright  han.l,  of  which  th.'  otiuM'  lin-ers  are  clo.sed,    ■ 
l-ninting  up.  back  t..  for"h..ad.  -h.scrib,-   the   in,ht  ..f  an  arrow  shot  up  and 
turning  down  again,  aUowing  the  han.l   to  drop,  the   lin-er   pointin-  d,)wu 
until  ab..ut    the  nn.hlle   of  th..  bo.Iy.   Uin.hiu.)     Sam-    i.h.t  of   Miner 


pen  or 


■•%«f|?.'*.i?k-'-V<-. 


<'IIIHF— DAY. 


19 


sli 


hoijilit  expvossc'd  conversely.  Almost  tlio  same  si<,ni,  tlie  liand,  liowever, 
])v\\\ix  iii.ivcd  (Idwiiwiti'il  vjipidiy  mid  the  j;esture  ))rcTi'(U'd  by  toiU'liiii<''  the 
lower  lip  \N  ith  the  index,  the  French  dc'd'-nuites  use  tor  "coniuinnd, '  "order." 
;;.  Tlie  extended  toreluif^er  of  the  right  hand,  of  whirh  the  dther  fin^i'crs 
iire  closed,  is  raised  to  the  right  side  of  the  head,  and  above  it  as  f;tr  as  the 
arm  c;in  he  extended,  and  then  the  hand  is  brought  down  in  front  of  the 
bodv,  with  wrist  bent,  the  back  of  hand  in  front,  extended  forefinger  ])ohit- 
ing  downwanland  the  others  closed,  "liaised  above  others."  {McVhcHUCji.) 
4.  Uegin  with  sign  f  »r  "man;"  then  the  foreiinger  of  right  hand  i)oints 
forwnrd  nml  downward,  followed  by  it  curved  motion  forward,  outward,  and 
downward.   {  'rilrlihtiiKitsJ;}.)     "lie  wdio  sits  still  and  commands  others." 

f).  l{ai>c  the  index  of  right  hand,  which  is  held  upright;  turn  the  iiulex 
in  a  circle  and  lower  if  a  little  to  the  earth.  {Wivd.)  "lie  who  is  the 
center  of  siu-rounding  inferiors."'  The  air-picture  reminds  of  the  royal 
scepter  with  its  si)here. 

(;.  liring  the  closed  right  hand,  forefinger  pointing  up,  on  a  level  with 
the  face;  tlien  bring  the  palm  of  the  left  hand  with  force  against  the  right 
foretiniicr:  next  send  up  the  right  hand  altove  the  head,  leaving  the  left  as 
it  is.   ( Ihirsci/.) 

7.  Tiie  Pah-Utes  distinguish  the  head  (diief  of  the  tribe  from  the  chief  of 
a  band.  For  the  lormer  they  grasp  the  forelock  with  the  right  hand,  jialm 
ItacUward.  pass  the  hand  U|)ward  about  six  inches,  and  hold  the  hair  in  that 
position  a  moment:  and  for  the  latter  they  make  the  same  motion,  but 
instead  o\'  holiling  the  hair  al)ove  the  head  tliey  la\  it  down  over  the  right 
tem))le,  holding  it  there  a  moment.  {XtHsJics.) 
Did).   Sewn  ^igns. 

1.  I'ass  the  indt'X-finger  pointing  along  the  vault  of  lu-aven  from  east 
to  west.   {Kohl.)     Our  deaf-mutes  use  the  same  sign. 

2.  Same  motion  with  whole  right  hand.   {JU-'ishiii.) 

;i.  Same  motion  with  forefinger  of  right  hand  crookcnl,  followed  by 
both  hands  slightlv  spn^ad  out  and  elevated  to  a  i)oint  in  front  of  and  ccm- 
siderably  above  the  head,  then  brought  down  in  a  semicircle 'to  a  level 
below  the  shoulder,  ending  with  ontsp  ead  palms  upward.  {THchkriiKU^kl.) 
This,  pr(;l)al)lv,  is  the  opening  out  of  the  day  from  above,  after  the  ri.sen  sun. 


20 


DAY— TODAY. 


4.  Siin])ly  iiiakc  ii  cii'dc  with  the  loix'fiiiii-ers  of  botli  IuukIs.  [Binion.) 
The  round  (Hsk. 

f).  I'ljicc  Ixith  liiinds  ;it  soino  distiuice  in  front  of  tlio  brcist,  ;ipart,  and 
hacks  downward    (  I'Vrf/.) 

n.  Urina'  hotli  liands  simuhaiR-oiisly  from  a  |)i^sItioii  in  front  of  tho 
IxmIv,  linp'rs  extended  and  joined,  pahns  down  one  aho\-e  the  other,  fore- 
arms horizontal,  in  a  eircniarly  separatin;^'  mamiei'  to  their  res|)e('tive  si<U'S, 
pahns  up  and  lorearms  lioriz-mtal :   /'.  c,  "  I]verythin^>'  is  open."  {LcmJit.) 

7.  15oth  liands  raised  in  front  of  and  a  Htth'  ]ii<i'her  than  tho  head, 
tiuii-ei's  of  hoih  haiuls  liori/.ontal,  extended,  and  meeting  at  the  tips,  palms 
of  liands  dowiiwai'd,  and  arms  liowed;  open  up  the  liands  wifli  Iinj4'ers  per- 
pendicular, and  at  once  carry  the  arms  out  to  their  full  extent  to  the  sides 
of  the  ]»ody.  l)riiiL;iii;r  the  palms  up.  "  The  opening'  of  tlu-  day  from  above. 
'J'lie  dispt'rsion  of  darkness."   [^tcClic.si/fif.) 

The  French  ileaf-imites  lold  the  liamls  upon  each  other  and  thi^  l)reast, 
tlien  raise  them.  i»alms  inward,  to  i)ey(.nd  each  side  of  the  head. 

T<i-(/iii/,  this  ildif,  has  four  widely  discre[)ant  siiiiis  in,  at  least,  appear- 
ance. In  one.  the  nose  is  touched  with  tlu>  index  tip,  followed  by  a  motion 
of  till- list  toward  the  orniUMl  ( A'/o/'/// ),  perhaps  iiichidino'  the  idea  of  "now," 
"lu-re."  In  another,  both  hands  are  extemled,  palms  outward,  and  swept 
slowly  forward  and  to  each  side.  (  TitrhL-nuutd-i.)  'j'his  mav  combine  tho 
idea  of  ),<>,(•  with  ui,v}i,„-^s,  the  first  part  of  it  rescmblino^  the  yeiieral  tleaf- 
nnite  sinii  for  "here"  or  "now." 

A  third  observer  y'ives  as  iiscl  fnr  the  i.lca  of  the  present  davthe  sio-n 
also  used  for  -hour,"  viz:  join  rlie  lips  of  the  thinnl)  and  loretiii-er  ..f  the  same 
hand,  the  interiMr  .mtl'in.  approximating  a  ciivl,.,  and  let  the  hand  pans,'  at 
tho  proper  ahitudo  ea>t  or  w.'st  of  th,.  assumed  meridian.   (  L,mhi.) 

A  fourth  rep.irts  a  comp.Knid  si-n:  JMi-st  make  the  following'  .sio-n,w]iich 
is  tliat  for  -now."  Forelin-er  of  rinht  hand.  ,,,f  which  the  oth.M"  lin-ers 
are  closed)  extended,  raise  the  arm  perpendicularly  a  little  above  the  ri-hf 
side  of  the  head,  ,s,,  that  the  exteiuled  fni-er  will  p,,i„t  to  the  cenfr  of  the 
heavens  and  then  bnaiohr  down  .m  a  level  with  th.-  rl-h;  breast,  foreliiiner 
Mill  pointin-  up.  and  immediately  carry  it  lo  the  position  re.pdre.l  in  mak- 


DKATIl,  1H:AI). 


21 


iiiii'  tlic  si<:-ii  tor  day  as  above  (MrClif.^i/ri/),  wlik-li  is  nsvd  t(»  comploto  tlio 
Hum  \'<>v  lii-iliiif.  {McChisiii'ji.) 
hi'dtli,  (li'dil.    Seven  sit;ns. 

1.  liiii'lit  Inihl,  liiiuvrs  front  at  liei<>'lit  of  stoniacli,  tlion,  witli  n  sort  of 
flop,  thi'ow  the  liand  o\cr  witli  the  pahn  up,  lin;,fev  pointing-  a  little  to  the 
riji'ht  and  front,  liaiid  hidd  horizontal,   {lirish/ii.)      "Upset,  keeled  over." 

2.  J.eft  hand  llattened  and  held,  hack  ui)\vard,  tlnind)  inward,  in  Iront 
of  and  a  few  inches  from  the  hreast;  rii--ht  hand  .sliu'htly  cla.sped,  forelinn'er 
more  extended  than  the  others,  and  jias.sed  suddenly  under  the  left  liand, 
the  latter  bein;^-  at  the  same  time  j^ently  moved  toward  the  breast.  {Titvlilie- 
))i(itsl,i.)      "CJone  undi  r." 

."i.  Hold  the  left  hand  flat  aj.;ainst  the  face,  back  outward  ;  then  ])..ss 
the  riiilit  hand,  held  in  the  same  manner,  undei-  the  left,  striking-  and  toiu'h- 
in^-  it  liiihtly.  (  W'icil.)  The  same  idea  of  ■'under"or" burial,"  (juite  differently 
exi'cnteil.  l)r.  Mc(  'lu'sney,  however,  conjectures  this  siyn  to  be  that  of  won- 
der or  surprise  at  hearinu'  of  a  death,  but  not  a  distinct  sipi  for  the  Uitt(n-. 

4.  Throw  the  f  relinp-r  b-om  the  perpendicular  into  a  horizontal  posi- 
tion toward  the  earth  with  the  back  downward.   (  Loiuf.) 

").  I'lace  the  left  foreliiigcr  and  thumb  a,Lfainst  tla;  heart,  act  as  if  tak- 
ing' a  hair  fr  >m  the  tluunljand  forelinp-r  of  the  left  hand  with  the  forelin^'er 
and  thmnl)  of  the  ri-ht  and  slowly  cast  it  from  you,  only  lettin,ii-  the  left 
hand  remain  at  the  heart,  and  let  the  index-linger  of  the  right  hand  point 
ontwai-d  toward  the  distant  horizon,   {llolf.) 

(i.   I'alm  of  hand  u[»ward,  then  a  wave  like  motion  toward  the  ground. 

(j-:ai>i:) 

7.  Place  the  palm  of  the  hand  at  a  short  distance  from  the  side  of  the 
head,  then  withihaw  it  gently  ii;  an  oblicpie  downward  direction,  inclining 
the  head  and  upper  part  of  the  body  in  the  same  direction.   [Jaclirr.) 

'Vhv  last  authoritv  lu-tcs  that  there  is  an  apparent  coimection  between 
this  conception  and  execution  and  the  etymology  of  the  corresponding 
\vv\u>  in  Ojibwa:  '-he  dies."  \>  iiilm:  "he  sleeps."  is  iiUxi.  The  common  idea 
expressed  b\  the  gesture  is  a  sinking  to  rest  The  original  signiticance  of 
the  root  iiih  seems  to  l)e  "  leaning;"  m/ilirid,  "  it  is  leaning;"  (iiiilicLireiii,  "  he 
inclines  the  head  sidewards."     The  word   idhd  or  iiihc  (only  in  compound.s.) 


f)0 


Kii,i,— ri:Ai.'. 


10 

) 


ronvcys  tlic  idcii  of  "iiiylit,"  porliiips  ;is  tlic  llilliiti,'-  over,  tli(>  <^nh\<j:  to  rest 

or  tlic  <li'MtIi.  of  the  (lay.      'I'lio  trnii  for  "leaf"  (of  a  tree  or  plant),  wliicli 

is  aiiihisli,  may  s|)riiiji-  from  tlio  same  root,  leaves  Ix'iiii;-  the  Icauiiii.- (.,(l,,\vii- 

li;iii-iii-'  parts  ,.f  tlie  plant.     With  tins  may  l)e  compared   the  Cliahta  term 

for  •■leaves."  literally  translated  "tree  hair". 

The  French  draf-nnite  conception  is  that  of  ;^'ently  falling'  or  sinkiii^r, 

tlH>  ri-ht  index  fallin--  from  the  hei-ht  of  tin  rinht  sjioidder  npon  tlie  left 

torelinu'cr  toward  which  the  head  is  inidiiied. 

kill,    in  one  sii^n  the  hands  are  lield  with   the  edt^cs  upward,  and  f] 

ri,ulit  strikes  the  left  transvei'sely,  as  in  the  act  of  choppini-'.      This  seems  t. 

convey  pariicnlarly  the  iK.tion  of  a  stroke  with  ;,   tomahawk  or  wai'-clnh. 

{LuwiA  it  is  more  delinitely  expressed  as  follows:  'i"he  left  hand,  tlmnd. 
lip,  l)ack  forw.irds,  not  very  ri-idly  exteiah-d.  is  held  hefoiv  the  chest  and 
struck  in  the  palm  with  the  outer  edo-e  ,,f  the  ri-ht  hand.  (Mu'/l/inrs.) 
Another  si_i:n:  Smite  the  sinister  palm  earthward  with  the  dextt-r  ti.st  sliarply, 
in  sn-o(-stion  of  p.ini.,;  .h.wn.  (/;,nio>K,  .\nother:  Strike  out  with  the  dex- 
ter Irst  towanl  the  -round.  meainiiLi'  t..  shut  down.  (Ilurtoii:  Mr(l,(s„rii.) 
This  s.ame  sinn  is  made  hy  the  I'tes.  with  the  statement  that  it  means  "to 
kill"  or  -stal)"  with  a  knife.  Iiavin-  ref,.rence  to  the  tinu^  when  that  was 
tlie  most  c.Mumon  weapon.  A  lourtli  :  l'a>sth..  rl-ht  und.a-  th..  left  fore- 
lin-er  (lim-tmiX  "make  -o  lin.h.r."  The  threat.  "  i  will  kill  yon,"  appears 
in  one  case  as  directinn-  the  ri-ht  hand  toward  the  ..iF.-ud.r  and  sprin-in- 
the  iinoer  from  the  thumi)  as  in  the  act  of  sprinkiin-  wafer  [Lnu,,),  the  idea 
iH'in-  perhai^s  causin-  l.lood  to  How.  .,r  perhaps  sputterin- away  the  life, 
though  this  part  of  the  si-u  is  nearly  the  same  as  that  sona'times  use.l  for 
the  discharge  of  a  gun  or  arrow. 
I((ir,  (dirard. 

I.  liotli  hands,  with  lingers  turned  inwan!  opposite  th,-  lower  ril.s,  then 
brought  upward  with  a  tremulous  motion,  as  if  to  represent  the  connn..u 
idea  of  the  heart  rising  up  to  the  throat.   ^ /^iii/har.) 

■2.  Head  stooped  down,  and  arm  thrown  up  ,p,icklv  as  if  to  protect  it. 
(Long.) 

.'•■  Fingvrs  an.l  thnnd,  of  right  han.l  which  droops  d.,u  nwanh  closed 
to  a  pomt  to  represent  a  heart,  vioh.ntly  1  r..peatedlv  heaten  a;:ainst  the 


:%'%J^Sf^^*^:i'iV 


ri:Ai;~\V(>MAN— (,H  ANTI'I'V, 


23 


left  l)ivast  jiisr  over  tlic  lic;irt  to  iniitiitc  piiljiitiition.  (Tittlil.cmdld-i.)  Tlic; 
Siuux  use  the  smhh'  si^n  witlnmt  cldsiii^'  tlic  rui;^'('rs  ti)  I'cpivscut  ji  lioart. 
{MiCIk'sih'//.) 

The  I'Vrin'h  (Icnf-iniitcs.  besides  l)ciitiii,i>'  the  licart,  add  a  lu-rvdus  liark- 
;Nard  shrinkiiiu'  willi  liotli  hands.  Our  dcaf-imitcs  uiiiit  tlic  l)catiiiji'  of  tlio 
liiart,  cxcciit  for  cxccssixc  tciTor. 

I.  I'oint  forward  sc\cral  times  witii  the  index,  followed  by  the  reniain- 
h\<>;  liii;icrs,  each  time  di'awiiiij;  tlu'  index  baek  {Wicd.,  as  if  impossible  to 
ke<'|i  the  man  to  the  iVont. 

fi.  May  be  si^^^nilied  by  makinj;'  the  sign  for  a  s([naw,  if  the  one  in  fear 
be  a  man  of  boy.   (  Ij  hiIi/.) 

(i.  Cross  the  arni>  over  the  b  •ast,  lists  clo.sed.  bow  the  bead  over  the 
crossed  arms,  ln\t  tnru  it  a  litth-  to  the  left.   (  Durscif.) 

W'oiinn/  has  fonr  sioiis;  one  expressinL;-  the  mannn;v.  one  iiidicatinji- 
shortness  as  eoin|)ar<-d  with  man,  and  the  two  most  e(aiunon  severally  iudi- 
C'atin;j;'  the  hniiicr  liair  or  more  llowing'  dress.  'i"he  hair  is  sometimes  indi- 
cated bv  a  motion  with  the  riiiht  hand  as  thoiiiih  drawin<j,'  a  comb  through 
the  eiitiiv  length  of  the  hair  on  that  side  of  the  head  {3rcCli('Slieif):  and 
sometimes  bv  turning  the  right  hano  alxmt  the  ear,  as  if  i»iittiiig  the  hair 
behind  it.  (Dotli/r.)  The  deaf-mutes  generally  mark  the  line  of  the  .)jon- 
net-string  down  the  che<'k. 

Qtuiiiiifii,  iitiaiij,  iiiKcli.  Six  wholl}-  distinct  executions  and  several  con- 
cei>tions. 

1.  The  Hat  of  the  right  hand  patting  the  l)ack  of  the  left  several  times, 
proportioned  in  luimlter  to  the  (piantity.   (Diinl'di:)     Simple  repetition. 

2.  ('hitching  at  the  air  several  times  with  both  hands.  (Kniil.)  Same 
idea  oi'  repetition,  more  obiecti\-e.  'i'his  sign  may  c-asily  be  confounded 
with  the  mode  of  counting  or  enumeration  by  presenting  the  ten  digits. 

;;.  Hands  and  arms  passeil  curvilinearlx  outward  ami  downward  as  it 
forming  a  large  globe,  then  hands  closed  and  elevated  as  if  .something  were 
gras|)ed  in  each,  and  held  up  as  high  as  tlu'  face.   (Lout/.) 

4.  Hands  held  scoop-fashion,  palms  toward  each  other,  about  two  feet 
apart,  at  the  height  of  the  lower  ribs,  linger-eiids  downward:  then  with 
a    diviu"'   motioe..  as   if  scooping   up  small   artii'les  Imm   a   sack  or  barrel; 


24 


I,  MvsKLr— vi:s. 


l»nii^-  the  liiiiids  iK'iirlv  t(\t;vtlitM-,  (in^^-frs  .-loscd,  ;is  il'  Iioldinu.  j,  imiiilxT  of 
tlu-  siiiull  olijccts  III  cnch  liaiul.  iiikI  ii|)  ;ii;;iiii  tiMla  luMLilit  of  llic  lirciist. 
I  lirishiii.)  'I'lic  Siniix  make  siil.st.iiiti.illy  llic  saiiit'  si-ii,  with  tlic  lilU'iviicc 
that  they  Iir-iii  alxnit  a  foot  and  a  lialf  fioiii  the  j-Toiiud  and  hriiii^-  the  hands, 
lip  to  the  IiciL:ht  of  the  liivast.   {  MiClivsiicii.) 

.").    iioth   hands  cIosimI,  hi-otiylit  ii|.  in  a  curved    motion    toward   each 
othur  to  the  level  ol'tlie  iiecU.    {Tilchknmitsh-}.)      Idea  of  i'nllliess. 

I).  Move  the  two  open  hands  toward  each  other  and  slinhrU-  npward 
(,  n  icil)  :   the  action  of  loi'niiiii^'  or  delineatinu'  a  hntp. 

/,  iiii/-s,/j[  iirsr  pei'sonal  pi'oni'iiii. 

Kepres<.nted  in  some  tribes  hy  motions  of  the  ri,-ht  hand  npon  the 
I'l'east,  the  hand  sometimes  clinched  and  struck  repealedU  on  the  l.ivast— 
or  the  tinovvs  or  the  index  alone  placed  npon  it.  ( »t!iers  fandi  the  nose-tip 
with  the  index,  or  lay  it  iipim  the  fid-v  of  the  nos,.,  the  end  ivstin-  I.etween 
the  e\  es. 

Som..  .leaf-nnites  push   the   forelinovr  a-ainst   the  pit  of  the  stomach, 
others  a-ainst  the  l.ivast,  and  others  point  it  to  the  neck  tor  this  personality. 

i'cv,  allirmati\e,  '"it  is  so." 

<  >iie  of  the  sions  is  somewhat  like  -  tnitli,"  hut  the  f.irelin-er  proceeds 
straio-ht  fa-ward  from  the  l.reast  instead  of  the  mouth,  and  when  at  the  end 
of  its  coiir.se  it  seems  nvmly  to  strike  soim-thin-  as  if  il„.  snl.ject  Were  at 
nn  end  (Lo>n/)  ;  n,,  lurtlu'r  discussion,  '•'nulf  said,"  as  is  the  vul-ar  phrase 
of  a-reement.  Another:  (,n\rk  motion  of  the  ri-l.t  hand  f.rwanl  from  the 
mouth,  first  position  about  six  inches  fr.an  th<.  ni.uith  and  llnal  as  lar  a-aiu 
i.way.  in  the  first  position  the  index  is  exten.led,  the  others  .dose.l,  In  ihv. 
iii.al  the  index  is  loosely  clos,.,!,  thn.wn  in  that  position  as  the  hand  is  moved 
forward,  as  tlmuyh  hookiii-  somethin-  with  it.  i'alin  of  han.l  ,^,t,  (  /Jrl/rn- 
bdttf/l/. ) 

Others  wave  both  hands  straioht  i;„-war.l  Iron,  tlu.  fac.-  ( /.Vr/o//), 
winch  may  be  compare,!  with  th,-  iorward  nod  common  ov.-r  most  of  the 
w..rld  Ibras.ent,  but   that   .estniv  is  not  universal,  as  the   New  Zeahr.i.vs 

'•l.'vnte  th,.  h,a.[  and  ,lun,  and  the  Turks  shake  it  lik u-  ne-ative. 

_      With  others,  aoain,  the  rinht  hand  is  .devated  to  the  h.vel  : in  front 

-f   the  shoulder,   the   first    two   lin;,ers  somewhat   extended,  thnmb   restim.. 
aoamst  th..   middle   linger,  and   then   a   siuhhrn    motion   in  a   curve  forward 


VI.:>,_<;<>(H)— IIAI>. 


25 


r  of 
■list. 


lice 


lids. 


ich 


in  I 


III) 


CM 


I'll, 


tv 


ml 


;ir 


so 


111 


It 


•a 


iiiii 


1  ,l,,uiiwiinl.  (  rilrlihrnifildl.)     As  this  convspoiias  nciirly  with  iIk;  siy'ii 
t"  1)\  tlic  siiiiM-  trilics,  ils  (•uiii'ci)tii.ii   iimy  lir  tliiit  of  rcstiiii^- 


iiiiKic  tor      SI 


u|)iiii  or  scttliiii;'  a  (|iicstii>ii. 

Still    niKillicr    xiii'Iaiil    is    wIutc    tlio    vi;4'ii 


(oiiK-)  i-xtrii(l(il,  iiuil  iioliiliiii:-  i'orwan 
It  is  llifii  moved  lorwanl  niic  or  iwo  tci 
-ivanl.   {Mdtllirivs.) 

(inotl.    Six  (livt'vso  si<;iis. 


t   liaml,    with  the    fnrcllu^'cr 
1,  is  hchl  lit'fore  ami  lu-ar  the   chest. 


t.  usiiallv  with  a  sH^ht  .curve  (h)WU- 


1.  'I'he  haml  hel.l  horizontally,  back   upward,  describes  with  the  arm 


juirl/oiilal  curve  oiitviard.   (  f.oiiil.] 
2.   SiiiipU)    iiori/.oiilal    iiiovcineii 


t  of    th('   ri'dit   hand    from   the   breast. 


(  Willi.)     These  sio'iis  may  comcy  the  snji'g't'; 


<tion  of  level — no  dilUciilty  — 


and   are   m 


arl\    identical    witii   one   o 


f   tli(»se    for   '■(•.■iiteiit,     "ylad. 


first  of  tluiii  is  like  uiir  \\u 


TIr 

itlon  of  beiie(lictioii,  but   may  more  siiLi'iiesrively 


be  compared  with  several  of  the  above  si-ns  for  "yes,"'  and  in  oppositmn  to 
several  of  tlau^e  bel.,w  .' .r  ''bad"  and  "no,"  showiu,u-  the  idea  of  acceptance 


or  selection  ol    ()I)H'( 


ts  presented,  instead  of  their  rejection. 


Witii  the  ri;4ht  hand,  palm  down,  iiiiLivn 


to  the  left,  thumb  tcuichin;. 


the    breast,    ini'V(> 


{Ih'isliiii.)      The  Sioux  in; 


the    hand    straii;lit   to    the    front   ami    slightly    upward. 


ike  the  same  sign  without  the  linal  upward  motion. 


{Mi-Vhv-iicii.) 


4.    Wa\-e  the   riLjIit  hand   Ir  >m 


the   mouth,  extendii;<4'  the  thumb  iron 


the  index  and  (dosiiii^'  tiie  other  three  iinuers.   {IlKrtoi/.) 


tl 


u\ml»  inward,  sin 


tiny-  to   the  left,  on  a  level  with  moutti, 
IdeiiK-  mn\cd  with   curve  outward,  so  us  to  present  the* 


■).   The  ri^iit  hand,  IniLicrs  ])oiu 


)alm  to  the  iierson  ai 


Idivssed.   ('  Tit(likciiiutsl,i.) 


These  last   si^iis  appear  to  '•■■  connected  with   a   pleasant  ti 


iste  in  th( 


inuutli.  as  i.s  tlie  siirii  nt 


the  French  an 


il  our  deaf-mutes,  \vaviu;j;'  thence  the 


hand,    liack    upward,  with 


downward  cur\i' 


iiiur<'rs    strai,u,'ht   ami  joined,    in  a  forward   and 
he  same  licstiire  with  hand  sidewise  is  theirs  and  ours 


for  p'lieral  assent  ;    "  very  well  . 
(1.    Move   tli(!   ri,2ht  hand,  [)a 


hu   d 


own,  over 


the  Idauket,  riiiht  and  left 


several  times.   (Ihirsi'i/.) 

llinl.  The  si'>ns  most  common  consist   mainly  in   sma 


the  dexter  lingers  as  if  sjirinkling  water,  (pr  Miappin 


rtlv  throwing  out 
<••  all  the  lingers  from  the 


20 


i!A  I »— ( ■(  »N  riiM  I'l  -II N I  m:i;sia  n  i  >— ti  i  i  n  k. 


iliiiiuli.  Tills  limy  he  coiiiiiiircd  with  the  (liMt'-miitc  ^i;:'ii  i>\'  IlippiiiL;-  :tn  Iiiiiiiii- 
ii;ir\'  ohjrcf  liclwccii  the  tliiiiiiliiuiil  .nid  l!ic  I'drcliiiL;'!'!",  di'imtili"'  soiiirtliiii"' 
siiiiill  or  ciiitciiiiitililr  Tlic  iiiiitidii  (it  >ii;i|i|)iii;i'  ;i  liii;^cr  cillici-  oii  itv  tVoiii 
the  tliiiiiil*  iiidisilaiii  is  not  oiil\-  ot'  hir^c  inodcni  |ii'('\  .ilciicc  in  civiliziitioii,  l»iit 
is  iit  1(  ;ist  ;is  iiiiciciit  iis  llic  roiitcMilionii'y  stntiic  ot'  Siii'(i;in;i|»iiliis  ;it  Ancliiiilc. 
Another  si;^'^  is,  hiinds  open,  piihiis  tni'iicd  in,  nio\c  oiic  hand  touiifd  and 
the  other  tVoni  the  hod\ ,  then  rice  r<  r'(i.  Anotlicr  h'>s  loiTihlc  lint  (MinalU' 
su^'uvstivf  jivsliiri' lor //^/^/isclioin;^'  the  hand  and  tlicii  o|ii'iiin-^' whih' htwcr- 
in^'  it,  as  if  (h-opjiiii;^'  out  the  coiiti'iits  (  W'icd ;  McCliisif,  i/)-  "not  woi'th  keep- 
in;;."  It  liecoinesaiiain  more  I'oreihK'  in  aiioflier  \ai'ianr,  vi/.:  the  iiand  eh)sed, 
liack  toward  and  near  the  hrea>t.  then  as  tiie  rorearin  is  sndih'idx  extemh'd 
the  hand  is  opened  and  the  lin^cis  separated  lioni  eaeii  other.  [  Mdtllntr^.) 
Tiiis  is  the  (•a>tin,L:  away  of  a  supposed  olijcet.  and  the  same  aiithorIt\-  eoii- 
iiects  it  witli  ((iitlnu/if  liy  rrpoi'iinn.'  that  the  sion  lor  the  latter  is  the  same 
only  still  more  forcihly  made  Aiiothei'  si^i,  f,,r  nii/f(  luiiK  n\\i\  wliieh 
is  the  liiL^iiest  decree  of  insult,  is  as  follows:  '|"he  li^ht  hand  is  shut  or 
elinidied  and  held  dr.;\\ii  In  toward  tlu-  (hot  and  on  a  leNcI  with  it,  with 
the  back  of  the  hand  down,  and  the  shut  lin-crs  and  thiimli  np,  and  the 
expression  of  contempt  is  oivcn  Iiy  extcndiiiL;'  out  the  lurnd  and  aim  directiv 
ill  Iroiit  of  the  l)ody,  ,it  the  .same  time  opeiiiiiL;'  the  thiimii  and  tiimvrs  wido 
and  apart,  so  that  at  the  termination  of  the  motion  the  arm  is  nearly 
exteiideii.  and  the  lliiimi)  and  liii^'ers  all  radiatini;-  out  as  it  were  from  tlu? 
center  of  the  hand,  and  the  palm  of  the  hand  still  poiiitlii-'  upward.  {(,'11- 
fiWui.)  'V\u'  Neai.olitans,  t.i  express  conremiit.  Mow  towards  the  per.son  or 
thiii.i-'  referred  to.  The  (hsif-mnies  preserve  the  conncctiuii  „f  ••  had"  and 
"taste"  hy  liriishiiiii'  from  the  side  of  the  mouth. 

r,„l.rstan,L  hun,r,  i..  very  variously  cxpres>ed  liy  manipulations  in 
Avhich  the  no>e,  ear,  (diin.  month,  and  l,rea.-t  are  selected  as  ohjectivo 
])oiiit.s,  all  the  motions  l.einn.  appropriate.  Thluk  ny  ,,„r..s  is  also  diver.sdy 
indicated.  ►Soiiietimes  the  foivlinnvr  is  simply  drawn  sharplv  across  the 
l.ivast  fnjiii  left  to  ri-lit.  {/liirfnu.)  Some  hit  the  ..jiest  with  .dosed  list, 
thuinl.  over  the  list.  A-ain,  the  ri-ht  list  is  h.-hl  uiti,  the  tliiiml.  I.etweei'i 
the  eyes  and  propellvd  front  and  downward  We.  for  show  of  thoiioht,  rest 
the  foreliiiuvr  on  the  forehead.  There  is  also  a  lc,.s  intelli.ildc  Wn.  in 
which  the  riyht  hand,  liiiuvrs  and  tliunil.  loosely  clo.-^ed,  index  crooked  and 


AMMAi,s-i)i;i:i;. 


•-'7 


wli-litlv  fNtciidcd,  is  .lii.j.cd  ever  towmd  iiiul  sinldciily  Inrwnnl  tVoin  tlic 
left  slioiildcr.  ['I'UrhLrniiilsiri.)  All  llw  y'otmvs  of  dcid'-iniitcs  ivliitiii;;'  to 
iiitclliufiicc  iiri'  coimcctcil  with  llir  lorcliiiid. 

.liiiiiKil.s  iwv  (Xiircssrd  iMiitoiniinically  l.y  some  clifiriictcnstic  ol  tlicir 
motion  or  fMi-iii,  iiii<l  tlic  liidi;iu  iiiiino.Lii'iii.licrs  Mviu-ndly  scciii  t(»  liavf  hit 
upon  >iinilar  si-iis  lor  tli.>  sf\cnd  jiniinids:  hut  to  this  rnh-  there  nre  iiiiirked 
exceptions,  esp..ciidl\  in  the  >i-iis  lor  thi'  <lrrr  and  the  d'xi.      For  the  <Urr  six 

Hi^'lis  iWi-  noted  ; 

1  l{i'.iit  hand  extended  upward  l.\-  the  ri-lit  ear.  with  a  cpiiek  pulV  iVoni 
th.-  mouth  (  Ihiuhin),  perhaps  in  allusi(.u  to  the  fleet  eseap.  on  iiearin-'  noise. 
•J.  Make  several  pa>se>  with  the  hand  hel'ore  the  tare.  (  Whd.) 
W.  W  iih  the  ri-ht  hand  in  iVoiit  ot'  liody  on  a  le\(d  with  the  shoulder, 
jni.l  al^out  ei-ht.cn  im^hes  from  it.  palm  <lown.  make  the  (puek  up-and-down 
motion  with  all  the  lin-.-rs  ladd  loosely  toncthor,  as  of  the  motion  of  the 
drer's  tail  when  runnin-.  The  wrist  is  lixed  in  makin-  this  sion.  It  is 
\ery  .-xprussive  to  any  one  who  has  ever  seen  the  surprised  d.'cr  in  motion. 

■  \.  FiMvliniivr  of  ri,ulit  hand  extendi'd  vertieally,  l)a(dv  toward  lireast. 
then  turne.l  from  side  to  si.le,  to  imitate  the  nn.tioii  of  the  ainmal  when 
walkin«j-  at  leisure.   (Liuni.) 

h.  r.oth  hands,  liu;i'ers  irre-ularly  outsprea.l  at  the  si<le>  of  the  head, 
to  imitate   the  ..ntspreud   horns.   ^Tilvhrimtskl)      'JM.is  si-n  is  ma.h'  l.y  our 

deaf-mutes. 

i;.  Same  positi..n,  eoulined  to  the  thuml.  and   t-wo  hrst  fmi^crs  of  eaeli 

hand,    {liiirhm  ) 

Tlu.  Mli<«ve  sijiiis  all  ap|.ear  to  he  used  for  the  animal  -I'enerically,  hut 
the  lollowin,!^'  are  sep.arately  reported  for  two  of  the  si»eeies: 

lUaek-tailed  ^rw  {(in-hicii^  iiuicralis  (Say),  dray]. 

1.   Makc^  sever.d   passes  with  the  hand   heforc;  the   face,  tln-n  indicate  ii 

tail.   {]]"/('!.) 

•2.  Hold  the  left  han<l  pi-ndant  a  short  distance  in  front  of  the  chest, 
thmnh  inward,  iin-er  ends  approximated  to  each  other  as  nnudi  as  possilde 
(,;.  ,.,  with  th(^  first  and  fourth  drawn  to<.-ether  under  the  second  and  third). 
Then  clo.se  the  right  hand  around   .he  left  (palm  to  hack,  and  covering  llu. 


2H 


iNST.\N(i:s  (H   i'i;i:\  ai,i;nt  shins. 


LiMcs  (.f  III..  I..|t-Ii;iii.|  (lii;r,.i-.s)  an. I  (Imn  flimi  il.nvinvanl.  sfill  rlos...!,  until 
if  Is  ciitiivly  (liMwn  iiwiiy.  This  Min'ii  mmi.is  t..  ivi.n.s,.|,|  tl,,.  „.i  ..f  simouiI,- 
iii-  (l..\vii  ill,,  riisll'nnii  tuft  ;it  tlic  ni.l  ,,f  ilir  ,iiiii„,.|i's  tail.   (Mallhnvs.) 

\\  liilc-tailril  (leer  \('iitiiiitis  rinihiiiii/iis  iiitiirin/i'>  i  \i:\\'.),  Cniics]. 

IN.M  the  rl-lil  hainl  iii.il^hi  Lrlniv  the  clM^sf,  ail  (Junvrs  l.iit  tlip  index 
iK-in;.'  iMiit.  III.,  i.aliii  hriiio.  fim,,.,!  as  iiiii.l,   t,,  ,|„,  iVont  as  |M.ssihI,..      'I'),,,,, 

"■■'-  ''"'  ''•""'  ''■ '''''<■  <"  ■^i"l"  "    t«'n-  finit.s  rai|i,.|-  slunlv.     Tli..  arm    is 

•'...v.'.l  s,.a.v..|v.  ,„•  la.t  al  all.  This  sio,,  ,...,nvM.|,is  ih...  ni..lion  ..f  lli..  ,|,...,.'s 
tiiil.  {M(if/li,trs.) 

''"'''"■''•    '" *■    ''"'    -'^"^    ^i^''^    fl".     hvu     tnlVlillnvrs     s|iu-I„|\     U|M.1H..|, 

•liMwi,    linrixniitally  i...n.s.   ||,..   I.^.a.!    IVmh.    li-lit    i,.   iHl.    {Ihni'nu.)      This 

u.-uM    u.,|    I,..   iiil,.|li;-il,l..  with.M.I    ki,..ul,.,|n. •  ,h,.  ta,.|   that    Im.|o,v   lj„. 

'""''"'"'••""'  "'■  ""•  •■-■  ■•""'  "VM.  y..|.  ih..  .I...'  has  1.,...,,  n>...l  f..  .Iran  th,. 

t.'Ml-,M.h.s  in  n,..vin;.-  ram,.,  an.l   ,li,.  .i,,,  n.pn.s..,i,s  th,.  ,,,,11.      Imlians  l.ss 

'"""-'"•-  "■Ii"'"iilr.n..n.>nhs,anlial   lo,|,vs.  au.l   ,..u| >  Hi..  mahTial  to,- 

l-l.'s  was  h.ss  pn...i,.u..  than  ,.n  ll„.  plains.  n..nl.|  nut  p,.,.ha,,s  hav..  ...mipre- 
l""nl''l  lh,s  si^n.  ami  ih,-  imav  ,.,.,,..,..1  ..m  is  Hi,,  pal,.,  h,w..n..l  as  if  ,., 
.><tinl<..  ..vntiv  m  a  lin..  ..nnf,,n,iiii,- m  t|,..   animaPs    |,..a,I   an.l    u..k       It    is 

''l''''yviar..,I  l.y  >iniply  luw.Ti,,,.  ih.  hand  ,.,  Ih,.  ,,M,aM,..iuhM.f  ,1...  w.,|lish 
ah.>n;,nial   l.n...,|  ,  Wi.l :  /V/.^/w.,;,,  ,„.,  „.,^..,,,^  ,,,;  ^,„.  ,,^,,    ^^^^.^^  ;^_ 

/'-'■.l''.n,.sn..ai...ll,y,l„.  Indians   1   ma.h.  a  ..nn.pani,.,,.      Th..    iMvmd. 

an.lAni..|.i,.and..ai.nut..sni.,n.   sp...d,i..allv..xp,vs.    i|i..d.,,   1...^^^^ 
I-  <-.c...  ami,, ...    pain,,,H...||ii,,,.  .,.,.,  p,^ 
tafni-  harkm-  with  th.'  lips. 


iN.sTAXcKs  oi-  1'i;i:vai,i:nt  skins. 

'I'.'iit  ai 

iiii.l.ll.'  liiioci  ,,(■  (li,,  ,•,■,, lit 


■''■'"  "'''"^  ^""' """■•'■ ''-'■'■  ''"I-'- ."..  M„.,„i„„.s  i,„„;.v,.,.  ,1,  t 

■"■'..■..........i..i.v,in,„i„,,i„.  ,.i,i„ I,, ,,,,,„,,;,,„■,,,,;„, 

'-' ■' ""-.'^  w... -1,..^ X,... ,,;.;„;: 


1 1(  H!.si:-s,\  M  i;  -1 1 1;— SI ;  im'I!Isi:-.si'  n. 


2i) 


is  ti>  )if  olciTvcd  fliiit  tli'M  siyii  liiiM  M  stnni'i'  rcscinltljiiicc  in  tin-  niif  ^••ivcii 

Ill)ii\('  l.\    <  ';l)it,iill    lilK  ION  lul'  ilnii,  ;iimI   IIIMV  1i;i\c  irt'crclicc  to  tile  ;:irlll.       It 
Ih  HtiU    IIIUIV    Cllf^iK     fdllfllSIll     Uilll     <  ';l].tjlill     r>l    IMON's     "  t  lli  Ills ,    ^i'llCS.-,".        Tilt' 

Krciifli  <lciit'  iiiiiti'>  iiilil  111  llif  >.tni(lilliii;4'  nt'  till'  iinlcx  tlic  iiiutioii  nt'  11  trot. 
'I'lic  I'ti^  hiivrii  >|)cciiil  siyii  lor  //o/.w — llic  lirst  iiiiil  little  liiij^crs  n|"  tin* 
ii;ilil  liiiml.  piiliii  ilowii.  cxtciiilcil  t'urwiii'd,  tlir  liiilh  of  tli.'  rciiiiiiiiiii^'  lingers 
rulliii;;'  ilowii  iiiiil  rcstiiiu'  M|ioii  tlic  cinl  oi'  the  lliiimlt,  pn'M-iitiiiu'  ii  siih-j^'cs- 
tioii  cf  iIk' iiiiiiiiiirH  liciiil  jiiiil  ciirs.  (  Mir  (Icai'-imitcs  iiidiniti'  tlio  mrs,  jol- 
luwtil  liv  slra.idliii;^' tin- lilt  liiiiid  li\  tin- t'oiv  and  middle  liiiLivr,-,  ol' tlic  ri^lit. 
Siiiiii .  sihiiliir,  is  Hindi'  not  only  aiiioiiL;-  our  trilies  ^eiiei'ally.  Itiit  1)\  llio.-e 
idl  o\ei'  the  \Mirld,  and  liv  dcal'-inntis,  hy  (Ateiidinii'  the  luo  t'nreliiiLi'ers 
toLictlier  side  li\'  side,  liacivs  ll|i\\aiil,  sninetillies  lliu\ed  toni.jher  sliitlitly 
lorward.  When  held  .at  re>t  in  lliis  |i..sItion,  iiiiiijKtiihiii  and  the  tie  ot"  t'el- 
liiwshiii,  what  in  ila\-  ol'  rhi\ali'\  was  styled  "  lirothers  in  arms,"  can  lie 
indicated,  and,  as  a  dei'ivative  :\\s,t,  Inishtii/d  The  l^'reiich  and  American 
deai'-mnlo   iim'   this   sii^n,   |>nceded  l)y  one  show  iiii;'  the  sex,  lor  "  Innther"' 

111"  "sister." 

The  most  rciiiarkalile  variant  iVoiii  the  si;iii  as  alio\  e  deseri!)ed  w  hich  is 
reiMirted  li.  lie  u>ed  li\  nur  Indians,  is  as  follows:  I'.xteiiil  the  fore  and  mid- 
dle lin"ei'  of  ihe  riulit  haiid,  iminlini;'  ii|iward,  thnnd*  crnssed  over  the  other 
liicers.  w  hich  are  (dosed.      .Mo\  e  the  hand  downward  and  forward.  (  /hirsci/  } 

An  oimo>itioii  to  the  more  common  siirn  alio\e  mentioned  is  i^iven, 
tlioiii:h  not  ^■em-ralK  re|ioi'ted,  lor  //c,  or  (iiKitlicr  jn  r.^ni/,  hy  idacini;-  one 
straight    foretlnLier    o\-er    the  other.    I'early   loiu'liinu'.   inid    then    separateil 

with  a  mod(rat(d\-  rapid  lion.   (  Ihntlun:)      'I'he  deaf-mutes  for  "he"  poini 

the  tlnimli  o\  er  the  riiiht  shoulder. 

The  principal  motion  for  surjirisr,  ir'UK/ci;  consists  in  placiiin'  tlie  rii^Iit 
hand  lielore  the  mouth,  whiidi  is  open,  or  supposed  so  to  Ik — a  gesture 
.-^eeminuK  in\oluntary  with  us,  and  wliiidi  also  appears  in  the  M;.>'yptiaii 
hIeroiiKphs. 

'I"he  Licneral  sii-n  for  ski/,  when  it  Is  L;iven  as  distiut;uished  from  iln// — 
made  li\  iorminii'  a  cir(de  with  the  thuniii  and  foi-elinp'r  raiseil  to  the  cast 
or  alon,:::'  the  track  of  the  orh — is  often  ,ihlire\iate(l  liy  simply  crookinii'  tlu^ 
elevated  forelinger  into  an  arc  of  a  cii-cle,  whicdi  would  mort-  uaturall\-  he 


^nnt^mp^nnitmip 


30 


.M()(,\— M(;iiT-iN(,»rii;v 


intorprotcil  as  rlu>  civscoiir  imxm.  Tt  M])]M';irs  tliat  smiu'  ti'il)os  tliiit  i-ctain 
tlie  tull  ilfscriptixc  cii'clc  tni-  the  •^uii  iln  tonii  a  illstiiiniii>liiiiu'  rrcscciit  lor 
til-;  iiiniiii.  hilt  w  illi  the  tliiiiiili  and  toiTliii^-cr,  ami  I'la- l;i'(  atcr  <li-icriiiiiiiati(iii 
|)r(Mt'(K'  ii  with  thr  sij^ii  toi'  ///V/A/  An  iiitcfcstiiiL;-  \ai-iaiit  (if  the  si^ii  for 
!^in/  is,  however.  I'l'iKifti'il  as  t'dlows;  'The  paftly  licnt  roi-clinovr  and  thiiinh 
ot  the  rii:ht  hand  are  hniULiht  toLi'ethei'  at  theif  tips  so  as  to  repi'eseiit  a 
ciride:  and  with  these  ihi^its  ne\t  to  the  lace,  the  hand  is  h(dd  np  toward  the 

sky  Iroin  one  to  two  teet  tVoin  the  excandin  such  a  niainier  that  ti -lance 

may  lie  difected  thi'oiiirh  the  opeinnL;'.  yMdllhrirs)  The  same  anthorit\- 
eives  the  >'vj:\\  [or  ■■moon"  as  that  for  •■sun,"  except  that  the  tips  of  the  Wwju'r 
and  thumli.  instead  ot  lieino-  op]iosed.  are  approximated  so  as  to  I'epreseiit  a 
ci'escent.  This  is  not  preceded  liy  the  si^n  tor  iiiiihi.  which,  with  sonic 
occasional  additions,  is  the  crossiiin'  ,,f  |„,tli  h,iri/.,,iitall\-  outspread  palms, 
ri-iiT  aho\-e  left,  in  tVoni  of  the  liody.  the  c. inception  liein-'  coN-eriii;^-.  shade, 
and  conseipieiit  olisciiritv.  With  a  sli-ht  diliereiitiation.  ihtrhiics^  is  n^pn- 
seiited.  and  with  another.  Joni't,  jon/oftnt.  that  is,  darkn->s  in  the  mcmorv. 
l,i'liin-<i,  <iii'ytn,H.    What.'      Which.'      \\'hen  .' 

This  is  ^-.'lurallv  denoted  hy  the  ri--lii  hand  held  upward,  paiiii  iipwanl, 
and  directed  toward  the  person  interrogated,  .-uid  mt.-ited  twoorthrcM'  tiiiie.s 
edgewise  When  thi-  motion  i>  made,  as  ainoiiu'  som,-  trilx's.  with  the  tliuml) 
near  the  face,  if  nii-ht  he  mi>takeii  for  the  derisis-e,  viil-ar  -estnre  called 
••takiii-;i  si-ht,"  ■■doniier  nn  pied  de  n,./."  descending  t.i  oiir  small  lioy.s 
li-om  anti.piity.  The  sep.-.rat.'  motion  of  the  tin-ers  in  the  viil-ar -estii're 
as  iiv-d  in  our  e;istern  cities  is.  however,  nior,.  nearly  correlated  with  tlu- 
Indian  M-n  for,/;,./  It  may  iie  n.ited  that  the  Latin  "-sa-.'ix,"  from  which 
is  derivcl  ••sa,-aciiy,-  was  diietly  nsed  to  denote  the  keen  s.^eiit  <if  do^-s.  so 
there  is  a  relation  e>tahli>hed  l,etween  the  nasil  ort^an  and  wisd.imorits 
absence,  and  that  '•siispendere  naso"  was  a  classic  phras,.  tor  hoaxim,-.  The 
Italian  expressions  "restare  con  ,„,  pahno  di  naso."  ••  cm  tanto  di  naso," 
.\:c-..  mentioned  livtlu-Camm  1  >K  doino.  refer  to  the  same  vnl^ar  uvstnre  h, 
^^lncll  the  face  is  supposed  to  he  thrust  firward  sillilv,  The'.sim'e  rot.-.tiou 
"I-"  the  uri.r.  with  the  index  and  middle  linger  diverged  over  the  heart, 
a.n..n.-.,nr  Indian,  means  specilicallv  ..c,r/,„./v.  n.hri.h.,.  -ncnv  , hat.  one 
'"•"'•t  •'"■  a  pnrpose."  and  a  variant  of  it  appears  in  ..ne  „f  the  shnis  lor  ••/ 


iN<,)rii;v— rooi no. 


31 


(Uni'>  biiiir."  'I'lic  siiccial  iii(|iiiry  "  1  >o  yoii  kimw.'"  is  reported  lis  lollows: 
Sli;ik«  the  riiilil  liaiiil  ill  iVoiit  of  tile  lace,  a  little  tn  tlie  riL;lit.  tlie  wiiole  arm 
ele\ateil  so  a^  to  llii'ow  tlie  liaiid  e\eii  ".villi  the  I'av'c  and  the  loi'eanu  staiid- 
iiiL;  almost  iierpeiidiciilar :  |iriiiei|ial  motion  with  hand,  slight  motion  oi 
iorcai'm,  palm  outward.    >l>ithiihaii<ih.) 

riu'  Indian  sij^n  lor  "  imjnirv"  is  tar  superior  to  that  ol  the  I'^reiieh 
dear-miiles,  w  hieli  i>  the  ])art  of  the  V'reiieh  shriiii,'  with  the  lnnudied  shoulders 
oniitled. 

.\  si^n  lor  a  special  t'oiin  of  ini|iiirv  as  to  the  trihe  to  which  the  person 
addressed  Ueloii^'s  is  |o  jiass  the  i  \<^\\\  hand  iVoni  lei't  to  ri^'lit  across  the  lace, 
wlrndi  is  answered  1)\  the  .apiiropriate  tribal  siyii.   iPotrcll.) 

instead  of  ;i  direct  (|Mestion  the  I'ti's  in  sii>-n-conversatioii  use  a  iiei4ati\(! 
form.  '.(/.,  to  ask  "'Where  is  \  our  mother.'"  would  he  rendered  "Mother — 
\(iiir — 1 — see — not." 

I''(ii)!,  Jiiiilisli.  The  prevailiiiu'  L;'estu,re  is  a  fiiiii'er  pointed  to  tlf  foreliead 
and  rotated  circularly — "  rattle  liraiued."  '<  he  jady  reporteil  \ariance  is 
whei-e  the  si^iii  for  "man"  is  followed  1)\-  shakini;'  the  lini;ers  held  down- 
wanl,  without  reference  to  the  held — tlie  idea  of  looseness  simply.  I'"rencli 
deaf  niutt's  shake  tlu'  hands  aliove  the  h(>ad  after  toiicl.iiii;-  it  with  the  inde\. 
.V'(.  iirfidlirr.  The  ri^ht  hand — though  in  the  l)e,u'iuuiii;,>:  of  the  si-n 
held  in  \arioiis  positions — is  L;-enerad\'  either  wa\ed  lieiore  the  lace  iwhi(h 
is  the  sioii  of  our  dc.ifnmtes  for  (Mupliatic  ue;;'ati\'e),  as  if  refusiiiL;-  to  accept 
the  idea  or  sfateiiicnl  pr.'seiited,  or  [iiished  sidewise  to  the  rii^ht  Irom  either 
the  hre.ist  or  face,  as  if  dismissiiii;-  it  or  settinu'  it  aside  I  )ne  ot  the  sii^ns 
nixeii  for  the  rah-l'les  \t\  \\r^iii:s  of  oscillating;-  the  iiulex  before  the  lace 
from  riu'ht  to  left  is  snb-^!.^nliall\  the  same  as  one  reported  frt>in  Naples  by  1  )k 
doino.  This  ma\- lie  compared  with  oiii' shakini;' of  the  head  in  denial:  luit 
thai  L;-estiire  is  not  so  iinixcrsal  in  the  ( )ld  World  as  is  popularly  supposed, 
i'oi' the  ancient  (ireiks.  followeil  by  the  modern  'i'lirks  and  rustic  Italians, 
threw  I  lie  lie.id  liack,  instead  of  sh.ikinu-  ib  *<"'  ^"-  -^  ■'^'.ii"  differinL;'  from 
all  the  aliove  is  b\  makiiiLi'  a  ([uick  motion  of  the  open  hand  from  tlu'  moiilli 
forward,  palm  toward  inonth.  [  Ihlfiiihaiiiili.)  The  Mii-yptian  neuatixe  linear 
liieioi^hph  is  clearlx  the  L'('sture  of  both  hands,  palms  down,  wa\ed  ,ipait. 
Iio.'i/.oiitall)    and    apparently    at    the    level   of    the   elbow,    l)etween    whiidi 


32 


lili;— TIM'TIl— ()FF.SlMiMN(J. 


iuul  till'  MiiNii   iicii'ativc  i)article   ";«'r'  tiivcii  hv  L.vxn.v  tlioro  is  a  stronsr 
coiiicidriu'c. 

Jj(\  fdlsvlnxiil,  is  almost  universally  cxprcsscil  bysomc  llii'urativo  vari.i- 
tioii  on  the  ucneric  tlKMiic  of  a  forked  or  (loiil)k'  toiiiiiK' — "two  (liircrcnt 
stories" — in  wliicli  the  lirst  two  liniicrs  on  tlic  riu'Iit  hand  separate  from  tlu* 
mouth.  ( )n('  reported  sii>n  preceilcs  the  iattt'r  motion  hv  the  rij^ht  hand 
touchini;'  tlu'  hrtsist  oNcr  tho  heart.  (JloJf'iiDii/.)  Another  instance  <>iv('ii, 
however,  is  when  the  index  is  extended  from  the  two  corners  of  the  month 
successivelv.  (lUihi.)  Still  another  is  l>y  passinii'  ihe  hand  froi.i  I'ij^'ht  to 
left  close  1)V  anil  aci'oss  the  mouth,  with  the  lirst  two  linii'ers  ot'  the  hand 
opeiK'd,  thninb  and  othei'  tiuLi'ers  (ditsed.  [Dnihic :  Xafsln's.)  A  further  variant 
employed  l)y  the  I'tes  is  made  by  (dosin::' the  ri^iht  hand  and  placiiiL;'  the  tii)s 
ot' the  lii'st  two  fiuLicrs  upon  the  hall  of  the  t'Xtended  thund>,  and  snappiiii^- 
them  forward  straii^ht  and  separated  while  ])assiiiL;'  the  hand  i'rom  the  mouth 
forward  and  to  the  left.  In  the  same  trilie  the  index  is  more  commonly 
mo\-e(l.  held  straiuiht  upward  and  forwai'd,  ahernat(dv  toward  the  left  and 
i'ii^ht  front.  "  'J'alk  two  wavs."  Tntt/i,  fr/ir,  is  naturalK'  contraihstinii'inshed 
liy  the  use  of  a  sinp'le  iin_i;-er,  the  index,  jioiiitinji'  straiiiht  from  the  nuMith 
foi'ward  and  sometimes  upwaivl — 'Mtue  tongue:  speetdi  straiiiht  to  tju'  front; 
no  i;dk  hehind  a  man"  Sometim<s.  however,  the  lirea>t  is  the  initial  point, 
as  ill  the  French  deaf-mute  siii'ii  loi'  "siiiceiv."  The  dent'-mutes  also  i^'esture 
"triitli"'  hy  nio\iii,u-  one  finder  straii;ht  from  the  lips — "straight-forward 
speakino'" — hut  distin.iiiiish  "lie"  by  mo\iiiji'  the  iini^vr  to  one  side — "side- 
ways spc^akinji'." 

(Hfsitrinn  or  descendant,  child  in  iillal  relation— not  simpK  as  \(uni<'' 
hiuuanity — is  n-eiierally  denoted  by  a  slightly  Aaried  dumb  show  oi'  issu- 
ance Irom  tlie  loins,  the  line  traced  sometimes  showinii'  a  (dose  (Han'iiosis  of 
]iarturition.  This  is  particularly  noticeable  in  the  folhiwinti"  description: 
Place  the  left  hand  in  front  of  the  liody,  a  little  to  the  riL;ht.  the  palm 
d(*wnward  and  sii-htly  airhed:  pass  the  extended  ri-ht  hand  downward, 
torwanl,  anil  upward,  fnrmi,]- a  short  cur\e  underneath  ilie  left,  i  ll,>tl'iii(tii.) 
'Hie  si'Mi.  with  additions,  means  "father,"  "mother,"  "jiTaiidpareiit."  i)iit  its 
expuriiated  form  amoiiL;'  the  Frenidi  deaf  mutes  means  "  parenta-;'e  "  «--e.ier- 
K'ally,  for  which  term  tlit^'e  is  a  special  sij>'n  reporteil  from  our  Imlians  by 


rOSSHSSION— Si'KAL— TltADi:. 


33 


niily  ono  authority,  viz:  IMacc  tin;  liaiul  Ijowl-slinpcd  over  the  riglit  breast, 
as  if  <^i'as])ii)^'  a  pa]).  {Ihdf/''.)  It  is  not  uiKlei'stDod  liow  tliis  can  be  distiii- 
•  ■•iii>lKMl  iVoiii  OHO  oftlie  si}"-ns  above  mentioned  for  "woman." 

I'osscssioit,  mine,  i)ii/  property.  The  essential  of  this  connnon  si^-n  is 
clinching  the  right  hand  lield  at  the  level  of  the  head  and  moving  it  gently 
forward,  clearly  the  grasping  and  dis[)la\-  of  property.  None  of  the  deaf- 
mute  signs  to  express  "  possession,  ownership,"  known  to  the  writer,  resem- 
ble this  or  are  as  gi-aphio.  Our  der.f-mutes  press  an  imaginary  object  to 
the  breast  -with  the  right  hand. 

Steal  The  i)revahMit  delineation  is  by  holding  the  left  arm  horizontally 
across  the  body  and  seizing  from  under  the  left  list  an  imaginary  object 
Avith  the  right  hand  (Burton),  implying  concealment  and  the  transportation 
that  forms  piart  of  the  legal  definition  of  larceny.  This  sign  is  also  made 
liv  o'>;r  deaf-nuites.  Sometimes  the  lingers  of  the  right  hand  are  hooked, 
as  if  lirabbing  or  tearing.  {TdclilxmdtsU.)  Another  sign  is  re[)orted  in 
which  the  left  arm  is  partly  extended  and  held  horizontally  so  that  the  left 
hand  will  be  palm  downward,  a  foot  or  so  in  front  of  the  chest.  Then, 
with  the  I'ight  hand  in  front,  a  motion  is  made  as  if  something  were  grasped 
deftly  in  the  fingers  and  carried  rapidly  along  under  the  lefi  arm  to  the 
a.xilla.  {Matthtu-^:)  The  specialty  of  horse-theft  is  indicated  b)-  the  panto- 
mime of  cutting  a  lariat.  {Burton.) 

Trade,  barter,  excltantic,  is  very  commonly  demited  b}'  a  sign  the  root 
of  which  is  the  movement  of  the  two  Hat  hands  or  the  two  forefingers  past 
each  other,  so  that  one  takes  the  place  before  held  by  the  other,  the  exact 
conceit  of  excha  .ge.  One  description  is  as  follows:  The  hands,  backs  tor- 
ward,  are  held  as  index-hands  pointing  U[)ward,  the  elbows  being  fully 
bent.  Each  haiul  is  tlieu  sinndtaneously  with  the  other,  moved  to  the 
opposite  shoulder,  so  that  the  forearms  cross  one  auorher  almost  at  right 
angles.  {Mnttlieics.)  Another:  Pass  the  hands  in  front  of  the  body  at  the 
height  of  the  waist,  all  fingers  closed  except  the  index-fnigers.  {Jh'ffni- 
Inuuih.)  This  is  also  made  by  the  Comanches  (Ilxirorfli),  Bannocks,  and 
Tmatillas.  (Natf^lu'S.)  Another  instance  is  reported  where  tlu'  first  two  fiu- 
gt'rs  of  the  right  hand  cross  those  of  the  left,  both  being  slight  1}-  spread. 
{Iloffmnn.)  Our  dcaf-nuites  use  the  same  gestiuv  as  first  ahove  mentioned 
;i  s  I, 


34 

with  ill 
1i-ailc,  ;i 


SHiNS  IIAVINC.   Sl'KCiAl.  INTKIv'l  .'7. 


,,  Imn.ls  cIos.mI.  All  iiivitnfioii  to  m  gcu-nil  or  s\  stciniitic  l.nrtcr  or 
s  aiMiiiri  iV.ur.  one  traus;wliuH,  i.  cxprosscl  l.y  vr^c-MrA  taps  or  the 
„„  „,•  ,„..,,  iin:...r..  'V\u-  rou-h  ivs.n.Mance  ..f  tliis  si^n  to  that  lor  -  cut- 
,;„,."  has  u.vasiouc.a  mistakes  as  to  its  ori-iu.  li  is  rqiortcnl  by  Captam 
lliriovas  thr  roiuvi-tion  of  oiR.  smart  trader  cuttiii-  into  thr  prohts  ot 
,„„ilur--aiainoiHl  rul  (HanioiHl."  Thr  tra.lc  si^n  is,  on  the  phiins,  often 
„M'.l  to  express  the  nlnlr  ...//-vocally  nanie.l  Shwop-n  legacy  from  th,. 
truhTs.  ^^llo  uvre  the  iirst  Canrasians  met.  Generally,  however,  the  ,.;vs- 
ture  lor  /r/,;/.  nuu>  is  hy  .lesi-i.atin-  the  hat  or  ]u.a,l-e..verin- of  eivill/ation. 
This  the  :Veneh  (U.al-mutes  apply  to  all  mm,  as  .listinet  from  w.mien. 

l^^TA^■('I:s  of  skins  iiavin(;  si'I'.cial  intkukst. 

A  t''ew  si-US  have  l)een  selected  which  are  not  remarkable  either  for 
ovneral. a- limited  acceptance,  hut  are  of  interest  from  special  conception 

or  peculiar  lii;inMiioii. 


■cnliar  liiinraiiou. 

Idle  relation  of  l>r<.ll»r^.  sistrrs,  and  of  hrolhrr  awl  .^Isfrr,  children  of 
.,„     ,ame   motlu  r,  is  si-nilied   l.y  puttiii-  the  two  Iirst  linger  tips   in   the 
n„,mh,  deiioiing  the  nourishment    taken    from    the  same   breast.   Ulnii,m  ; 
Ihrrani.)     I  >ne  of  the  signs  for  rhlhl  or  infant  is  to  place  the  thiun))  and  lln- 
ovrs  of  til.'  ri-ht  hand  against  the  lips,  tlieii  drawing  them  away  and  bringing 
"ihr  ri-lii  liand  against  l!ie  left  fore  arm,  as  if  h^ddiiig  an   infant    (^IhiuUn:) 
The  Ci.tcrcian  monks,  vowed  I.,  silence,  and  the   Kgyptian   hieroglyphers, 
,„,tablv  in  the  designation  of  llonis,  tlicir  dawn-god,  used  the  linger  in  or 
on  the  lips  for  "child"'      It  has  been  conjectured  in  the  last  instance  that 
the  Li'estun^  implied,  not  flie  moile  of  taking  iK.nrishm.ent,  but  inability  to 
sju.;ih_;//-/;,//,s'.     This   conjecture,  however,  was  only  made  to  explain  tho 
blunder  of  theiiiveks,  who  saw  in  the   hand   pjaci'd   coiniected  with  the 
moiiih  in  the  iiieioglyph  of  Horns  (the;^  son,  "  [lor-(p)-chrot,"  the  gesture 
familiar  to  themselves  of  a  linger  on  the  lips  to  express  "sih-nce,"  and  so  mis- 
talv'iiL:'  both  the  name  and  the  cluiractti'Ization,  invented  the  (jod  of  Silence, 
llarpokrales.      A  curelul  examination  of  all  the  linear  hieroglyphs  given  by 
(JiiAMi'oi.i.lON  (  Dictionnaire  Kgyptieii),  shows  that  the  linger  or  the  hand  to 
th(!  mouth  of  an  adult  ( whose  posture  is  always  distinct  from  that  (d  a  child) 
is  alwaxs  in   coimection  with    the    positive    ideas  of  voice,  month,  speech. 


l)i:STi;()YRl>— DONE— (11;AI)— DI.SCONTKNT. 


35 


wvlliiig-,  oatinu-,  drinkiiif^',  ttc,  and  novor  willi  tlio  iioj^iilivo  idea  of  siloiico. 
Tlic  ^i^rcial  cliaractcr  for  "child"  always  has  the  abovo-iin'Utioneu  part  of 
iIk-  sii;ii  with  rul'ereiice  to  iiourixlimciit  fmiii  the  breast.  An  iiiiinstriu'tcd 
(leaf-inutc,  as  related  liy  Mv.  Denisou  of  the  Columbiii  Institution,  invented, 
to  express  '' sister,"  iirst  the  sij^u  Ibr  "  female,"  made  liy  the  half-elosed- 
bands  witli  tlu'  ends  of  liugers  touehin;--  the  breasts,  followed  by  the  index 
in  the  lucnlh. 

Ikstioi/nl,  all  f/o)u\  )io  Diore. 

The  hands  held  horizontal  and  the  ])alms  nib])ed  togothor  two  or  three 
times  circularly;  the  rii^'ht  hand  is  then  carried  off  from  the  other  in  a  short 
bnrizontal  curve.  (Loiif/.)  "  iiubbed  out."  1'iiis  re.s(>mbles  the  Kdinlmrgh 
and  our  deaf-mute  si^n  for  "  forgive  "  or  "  clemency,"  the  rub1)ino'  out  of 
olVense.  Several  shades  of  meaning  under  this  head  arc  designated  by 
varvin<"  ccstures  "  If  something'  of  little  imi)orlanco  has  been  destroyed  by 
accident  or  design,  the  fact  is  communicated  by  indicating  tin-  tiling  spoken 
of,  and  then  slightly  striking-  the  palms  and  open  lingers  of  the  hands 
togethei-.  as  if  brushing  dust  olf  of  them.  If  something  has  been  destroyed 
l)v  force  the  sign  is  as  if  1)reaking  a  stick  in  the  two  hands,  throwing  the 
])ieces  awav,  and  then  dusting  the  hands  as  before.  The  amount  of  torce 
used  anil  the  completeness  of  the  destnu'tion  are  shown  by  greater  or  less 
vig-or  of  action  and  facial  expression."  {Duth/i .) 

Done,  Jiiilshed.  The'  hands  placed  edges  up  and  down,  parallel  to  each 
other,  rigrht  hand  outward,  whi(di  is  drawn  back  as  if  cutting  something. 
{Dniihar.)  An  c;/r/ left  after  cutting  is  suggested;  perhaps  our  colloquial 
"cut  short."  'i'lie  I'Veiicli  and  (Uir  deaf-nuites  give  a  cutting'  motiMii  down- 
ward, with  the  right  liaiid  at  a  right  angle  to  the  left. 

Ghiil,  pleased,  conteid.  Wave  the  open  hand  outward  from  the  l)reast 
(ll(iiinn),  to  express  lieart  at  eases — "bosom's  lord  sits  lightly  on  its  throne." 
Aiiollier  gesture,  perhaps  noting  a  higher  degree  of  happine.-^s,  is  to  raise 
the  riiiht  liand  from  the  breast  in  serpentine  curves  to  above  the  head. 
(Wiul)  "lleait  beats  high."  Another:  Extend  both  hands  outward, 
pahns  turned  downward,  and  make  a  sign  exactly  similar  t(.  liie  way  women 
smooth  a  bed  in  making  it.   illoU.)      "  Smooth  and  easy." 

Dissalisfiiilioit.  disiviitr/it.  is  naturrdlv  c(»ntra-ited   by  holding  the  index 


m 


1 1 1 1  )i:-1'i;a(  'i:-.sT()N  i:-im,'is()n  i:i;. 


tmnsvcrsoly  ImIoiv  tlic  licirl  ;iii'l  roiatiiio-  the  wrist  sever;)]  times,  iiidicat- 
iii-i-  (listtirbiuice  dt'iiie  orpm,  wlilch  «.iir  iilierii^incs,  like  modcni  I']iin)])CiUia 
])(.eti('allyre<''ar(l  as  tlie  seat  of  the  alleetloiis  aii.l  •■iiK.tioiis,  not  selectiiijr 
tlie  liver  or  stoiiiaeli  as  other  peoples  have  <loiie  with  yreater  ]»liysi(.l(.(.'ii.i,l 
reason. 

T(.  ]ii,lr,  rniimd,  is  -raphieallN-  ])()rtraye<l  hy  plucinjr  tlio  rin^ht  Jiand 
inside  the  elothin-  of  the  left  Invast,  or  covering  the  right  liaml,  lingers 
hooI<,.,K  l,y  the  left,  Avliieh  is  ilat,  palm  downward,  and  lield  near  tlie  l.ody. 
'i'he  same  gestures  mean  ''  KcnrtP 

J'racr,  ov  frhudshtp,  is  sometimes  shown  l)y  placing  the  ti[)s  of  tiie  two 
first  lingers  of  the  right  hand  against  the  mo„iI,  and  eloviited  upward  and 
outward   to    uiimie   the   exiadsion  of   smoke— "  n,-   two   smoke   toovther." 
{THrhlnuatski)      It    is  also  often   rendered   l.y   the  joined   right   ;m.l  left 
hands,   the  lingers  JM.ing  sometimes  interlocked,  l,„t  <,tliers  Tin.ply  h..ok 
the  two  forefn.gers  togvther.     ( )m'  .leaf-mutes  interh.ck  the  forefingers  for 
'•I'riendship,"  clasp  the  hands,  right  npp.-rmost,  lor  "marriage,"  and  make 
tlieh.st  sign,  r<.p,.at..d   with   tlie  K.ft  han.l  uppermost,  for  ''peace"     The 
ulea  of  union  or  li,d.ing  is  olnious.     I,  is,  however,  noticeable  that  while 
tins  cereuu.mal   gest.uv  is  eonnnon  ;u,d  ancient,  the  practice   of  shakin- 
hands  OH  meefng,  now  the  a.,noyi„g  eti.piette  of  the  Indians  in  their  inte." 
n.nrse   ..th  ^shites,  uas  t.ever  used  „y  then,  betwec...  each  other,  and  is 
H-arly  a  loretg,.  iu.portatiou.     Their  laucy  for  atlectionate  greeting  was  in 
givmg.   pleasant  bodily  sensation  by  rubbing  each  other'; breasts   anus 
and  stomachs.     The  senseless  and  incon^enient  custom  of  shaking  hands  is' 
indeed,   l>y  t.o  means  getu^ral   throughout  the  wo,ld,  and  in  the  extent  to 
-I.H-h  .t  pre^uls  in  the  I'nited  States  is  a  u.atter  of  national  oppr.>briu,u 

i  he  pro  ess>on  of  ju:ua,  co.jM  u-Hh  hn-iMio>,  is  ofkn  mad.>  fVotn  a 
cbstance  by  the  acted  spreading  of  a  real  or  i.uagiuarv  robe  or  bla,d<et- 
"'Coine  and  .sit  down.' 

^    The.  si«„   (.,■  ,,/„„,.  1,„,  „„  ,„,|„,„|,„i,,,,   ,,i„,„i„„„„,,_„,„    ,, 

'';"'=  "'■""  "i-r"''"^' " ■ "- 1'-'"  i«'i"',  -  «-„„i,i  I,..  i„.„i„„„„.  ;i,„„  „ 

stone  was  the  .Hily  Imiiniier. 

/V;.-,r  is.  .n.phic  picture.     The  forefinger  and  thumb  of  the   lelV 
'-  '"'■'u  ot  ,  semicircle  opening  toward  and  near  the 


hand  are  held 


m 


»'i^..-„^_._. 


(•oNci.fHioN  I'i;i:si;nti;i), 


37 


breast,  mikI  llic  riylit  rdrciinizcr,  rojuvsciit'iiL;'  tlir  inisoiicr,  is  pliiccd  upright, 
witliiii  the  ciirvi!  iiml  passed  JVoiii  one  side  to  aiidtlRT,  in  oi'deT  to  sIkiw  that 
it  is  not  pi'iiiiittiMl  to  ])ass  out.   (Lniif/.) 

Soft  is  iiiLiciiioiislv  expressed  liy  lirst  striking'  tlic  open  left  liaiul  sev- 
eral times  with  tlic  hack  of  the  ri-'ht.  and  then  strikinii'  wilh  tlie  rl,i;lit  the 
back  of  the   Icl't,  restoring-  llie  snpjioscd   \  ieldinji'  siil)stance   to   its   Inrnicr 

sliapo. 

Witliout  Cnrtlier  nlnltipl\•in^•  examples,  the  coiulasion  is  presented  that 
thi'  "■esture-sij^ns  amon^'  onr  Indians  >hn\v  no  iinil'ormity  in  detaik  tlie 
variety  in  ex|)ressi(>n  anionj^'  them  and  in  their  i  )niparison  with  those  ot 
(leat-nintes  and  traiisathmlic  mimes  bein.L;-  in  its*  H' of  iisycholoj>-ical  interest. 
The  .n'cnerali/ation  of  Tvi.ou  that  "  li'estnre-hiiwnaj^e  is  snl)stantially  the 
same  amon.u'  sava,i;e  tribes  all  ove;  the  world"  nmsl  he  nnderstood,  indeed 
woidd  be  so  understood  from  his  remarks  in  another  comuction,  as  reler- 
rinji'  to  their  connnon  use  of  si^'ns  and  of  ,sl-ns  formed  on  tlie  same  prm- 
eiples,  but  not  of  the  same  sij^ns  to  expre»  the  same  ideas,  even  "substan- 
tiiillv,"  liowever  indelinitely  that  dubious  adverb  may  l)e  used. 
C.KSTlltHSl'KKCIl   lMVi:i;SAl,   AS  AN   Ai;T. 

The  aUvmpI  h  coiiirii  nicai/'n/f/  h/i  mV/''-  'S  however,  nvh-nsai  amon.u'  the 
Indians  of  the  plains,  and  those  still  comparatively  unchan-ed  by  civiliza- 
tion, as  is  its  successful  executi.m  as  an  art,  which,  Imwever  it  may  have 
eounnenced  as  an  instinctive  mental  process,  has  been  cultivated,  and  con- 
sists in  actually  poiutin-  out  objects  in  si-lit  not  .mly  lor  .lesi^iation,  but 
fur  application"  and  predication,  an.l  in  su-cmIu-  others  to  the  mind  by 
action  and  the  airy  forms  proihiced  by  acti..n. 

In  no  other  "part  of  the  thorou-hly  explon-d  world  has  there  been 
spread  over  so  vast  a  space  so  small  a  nnnd.er  of  individuals  divi.led  by 
so  many  lin-uistic  an<l  dialectic  boundaries  as  in  North  America.  V.-mj 
AvhoUy  distinct  tou-uos  have  for  a  Ion-  indelinite  tin.e  l,een  conlmed  to  a 
f  >w  scores  of  speakers,  verbally  incomprehensible  to  all  others  on  the  face 
of  the  earth  who  did  not,  fron.  M.n.e  rnrelv  operating  u.otive,  labonously 
,,,,„;,„  ,l,,i,  l,„:^na^e.  Kven  when  the  A.neri.an  race,  so  styU.!,  tlounshed 
in  the  oreatest  population  of  whicli  wc'  have  any  evidence^  (at  least  accord- 


as 


SKiN  LAN(;rA(il';  as  an    INDIAN   AlJT. 


\\\'j;  1()  llic  pulilislu'd  views  (if  tlio  ])r(»sciit  wi'ifcr,  wlii<'li  seem  to  li.nc  ln'cii 
l';ivoral)l\-  ivccivcil ),  the  iiiuiiiiisc  muiilici'  ol'  I;ili,t;'ii;iL:c'<  .'iiid  dinlccts  slill  pfc- 
scr\(  (i.  or  kuiiwii  l)y  cnrK-  reconlcd  t'l'iif^'iiu'iits  to  liavi'  oiicn  existed,  so  siih- 
di\ided  it  that  luit  the  dwellers  in  a  wvy  lew  villiiiics  coidd  talk  to.ijretlier 
with  ease,  and  all  were  iiiterdisfribiitod  among  iiiirespoiisivif  vernaculars, 
each  to  the  other  heiny- har-bar-ous  in  every  nioaniuj^  of  the  term.  It  is, 
however,  noticeable  that  tho  three  n'roat  families  of  Irocpiois,  AlL;'onk;n,  and 
.Mnskoki,  when  met  by  their  lirsi  visitors,  do  not  aj)i)ear  to  ha\-e  oi'teu  im- 
pressed the  latter  with  their  reliance  n|ion  j.;'estnrcdan^'iiaL;('  to  the  sanu^ 
extt'iit  as  has  alwa\'s  been  reported  of  the  aboriijines  now  and  fornierh' 
I'oniid  farllier  inland.  It'  this  alisi-nce  ot'  I'eport  arose  from  the  absem-e  of 
the  pracllci'  and  n^l  tVoin  imperfecrion  of  obser\'ation,  an  explanation  may 
be  sm^'^vsted  iVom  the  fact  lliat  amonn'  thosi'  fimilies  there  were  more 
l)eo|ile  dwellinn'  near  toM-etlier  in  socioloo-ical  coimnunities,  of  the  same; 
speech,  tli/'i'^h  with  dialectic  pecidiarities,  than  became  known  later  ir.  tlnj 
later  West,  and  n<>t  beiuL^'  nomadic,  their  intercoarse  with  strange  tribes 
was  less  indl\idnal  and  conversational. 

The  iisi' ol' M'e.-.fure-siL;iis,  continn''d,  it'  )iot  ori^'inatinfi',  in  nocessit\-  for 
comimniicatioii  with  the  outer  world,  bcH'amt,-  entri!»all\- convenient  fi-om  tlu; 
liabits  of  InnUers,  the  main  occupation  of  all  sava;^'es,  depi'iidiuo-  larL;-el\- 
upon  stealthy  ap|)roace  to  <i'ame,  and  from  the  sole  form  of  their  militarv 
ta.tic- — to  surprise  an  enemy.  In  the  still  expanse  of  \irgin  forests,  and 
es]K'cially  in  the  boiiudless  solitudes  of  the  great  plains,  a  slight  .sound  can 
l)e  heard  over  a  v.isr  aroi,  that  of  the  human  voice  being  from  its  rarity  the 
most  startling,  so  that  it  is  ik.w.  as  it  probably  has  been  for  centuries,  ;i 
common  precaution  for  meinbi'rs  of  a  himting  or  war  party  not  to  speak 
together  when  on    such  expeditions,  comuiunicatiuL;-  exclusivelv  bv  si-ni.s. 


The  acquired  hal)it  also  exhibits  it.self  not  oidy  in  formal 
impassioned  or  emi)liatic  conversation. 

This  domestic  as  well  as  foreign  exercise  fi 


•ratory,  but  in 


language  has  naturally  produced  great  skill  botl 

s'.  as  to  be  me.Kurably  independent  of  any  prior  mutual  understand 


'or  generations  in  tlio  gosture- 
I  in  expression  and  reception, 


ni''-,  or 


what  m  a  s\-stem  ot'  si'nial.- 


is  calle(l  precoiu'ei't.     T 


wo  accomj) 


lished 


arm\' 


signahsts  can,  after  .suliicient  tri.il,  comuiunicate  without  either  of  them  1 


learn- 


.tML^_^ 


i;i:sri;r  in  mltiai,  rNDimsTANDiNc 


39 


in<r  tlu'  code  ill  wliicli  tlu'  dtlicl'  \v;is  ciliiciitcd  ;iiiil  wliicli  lie  li;ul  hcrorc  prac- 
ti('»Ml,oiu'  hcin^'  luiitiiJilKili'viscil  tor  tli('iic('a.-.liiii,aii(I  llmsi'  spcciallvtU'siniit'il 
lor  sccn'('\'  arc  ol'lcii  (l(M-i|)licrr(l.  So,  it'  aii\'  (Hic  ol'  the  iikh'i'  apju'dxiiiiatcly 
(•ouvciitidiial  si'^'iis  is  ihtt  ([uickly  cnmia'cIiciK 


Icil,  ail   liulian  skilled  in   ill 


principle  of  siji'iis  rcsdi'ts  to  aiinllnT  expression  of  Ids  llexihle  art,  perlia[)s 
reproducing'  tlu.'  j^'esture  iiiialdireviatcd  and  made  more  i^rapliic,  p(Tlia|)S 
la'esciitiiii^'  either  the  same  or  aiiotlier  conciptioii   or  ipiality  of  the  saiius 


oliiect  or  i( 


\ra  1. 


\-  an  oni^inai   p: 


irtrailiii'i 


he  same  tnl)e  lias,  inileed,  in 


some  iiistaiiees,  as  ajipears  li\-  the  eollecteil  lists,  a  elioic*'  alrcaily  I'liriiished 
1)\-  tradition  or  importation,  or  reciMii  inveiilioii  or  all  to^^'etlier,  ol'  several 
si^'iis  tor  the  same  thouii'lit-ohjerl,     Thii^  there  are  produceil  Hymaiyms  as 


\V( 


11  as  dialects  in  sij'ndaiiu'naL;( 


Tile  <''eneral  result  is  that   two  inte]liL;',Mit  mimes  sehloni  tail  of  mutual 
linderstaiidiuii',  their  attention   heiii^'  extdiisively  directed  to  the  exjiressiou 
ol'  thou'dits  1)V  the  means  ot'  co;iipreheii-<ion  ami  reply  e(pi;dly  possessed  l»y 
lti>tli,  without  the  mental  conl'n>ioii  ol'  conventional  sounds  only  iiitelli,i>'il)lo 
to  one.     The  Indians  who  have  Ijimii  shown  over  the  civili/ed  jvist  have  also 
often   succeeded   in   holding;'  intercourse,  hy  means  of  their  iii\-entioii  and 
applieatioii  of  principles,  in  what  may  he  called   the  voic      >s  mother  nttor- 
ance,  with  white  deaf-mutes,  who  sartdy  have  no  semiotic  coile  more  nearly 
connected  with   that   attriluited  to  the   plaiii-roamers  than  is  (h-rived   from 
their  eonunon  humanity.     When  iliey  met  to;.retlier  they  were  found  to  imr- 
suo  the  same  course  as  that  noticed  at  tli-  meetiiii:-  top-thor  of  deaf-mutes 
who  were  either  not  instructed  in  any  metliodical  dialect  or  who  had  received 
smdi  instruction  hy  dllfcivnt  m  ■tin  Is.      They  seldom  a-reed  in  the  si-ns  at 
lir.st  presented,  hut    .^.on  nnderstoo  I  them,  and    llnished  hy  a(h.ptiii-'  some 
in  mutual   compromise,  which  pn.ve.l  to  he  th  >s  >  most  strlkiii-ly  appro- 
priate, -racfnl,  and   conv.mieiit,  hur  there  still   remiin-d   in   some  cases  a 
plnralitv  of  littin-  si-ns  U  the  sann-  id-.i  or  ol.jec!.      (  )n    .aie  of  th.'  most^ 
interesting  of  these  occasi,,ns,  at   the    I'eiinsylvania    Inslltntioii  for  the  Deaf 
and  Dnmh,  in  187;i,  it  was  remarked  that  the  si-ns  of  tlu-  deaf-mutes  were 
„„„.l,  „„„,.   ivadilv    undeistood    hv    the    Imliai.s,    who   were    Ahsan.ki   or 

lliin  were  theirs  1)\-  the  deaf-mutes,  and 


Crows,  .\rapaho-;.  and  (  'heyemies 

that  the  latter  -Tcatly  excelled  in  panto. niin 


le  el'fect.      This  need  not  he  sur- 


tm 


40 


IN'DIANS  CONVm.'SINC.   WTI'II   DKA  I'M  I'lKS. 


prisiiiL;'  when  if  is  rciisiilrrrd  lliat  wlint  is  to  tlic  ImliMii  ;i  mere  iHljiiiirt  i»r 
iiccoiii|ili>liiii('iit  is  lit  till'  (Irar-miitc  the  iiatiira!  imiclc  nt'  iillcraiicc,  :iiiil 
that  there  is  still  :;rcatcr  iVci'ildiii  iVdiii  tlic  tramiin'l  ,>\'  traiisliitiny  words 
into  actioii — instead  of  actiiiu'  the  ideas  tlieiiis(d\('s — wlnii,  tlic  sound  ol" 
wurds  IxiiiL;'  nnkuown,  tliev  ri-iuaiii  still  as  tlicy  ori.yiiialcd.  lint  aiiotlicf 
kind  ol'sin'ii,  ('Veil  ai'ti'i'  tin  ait  ot'  I'eadiii:;'  is  a('(|iiired,  and  ilo  not  liccoiiic 
entities  as  with  us. 

It  is  to  lie  i-eiiiarked  that  Indians  when  ln'oui^Iit  to  the  Mast  liavo 
shown  tlu'  e-i'entest  plciisiirL'  in  ineetiii;;'  deaf-mutos,  itrecixdy  as  li'a\-(!ler.s 
in  a  I'oi'eiLin  coiinlrN'  aro  rejoiced  to  lucct  persons  spcakiiiu'  their  laii^'na;4'c, 
with  whom  ihey  can  liolil  direct  coininunicatioii  without  the  tiresome  and 
oi'teii  suspect(.'d  me(liuni  of  an  interpreter.  A  Sandwitdi  islMiidei-,  a  Clii- 
lU'si',  and  the  Africans  from  the  slaver  .\mistad  liasc,  in  piihlished  instances, 
visited  our  deaf-mute  institutions  with  the  .same  result  of  j'ref'  and  pleasiira- 
!•!.  intercourse,  and  an  Miiii'lish  deal'-miite  had  no  (lillicult\-  in  conx-ersiiii;' 
with  Laplanders.  It  ap[K'ars,  also,  on  the  anthoi'itv  of  SiiiscoiA,  whose 
treatise  was  pnlilislied  in  IHTC,  that  Cornelius  jjaua.  amliassador  of  the 
I  nited  Provinces  to  the  .Sublime  I'orte,  foinid  the  Sidtau's  mutes  to  liavci 
established  a  huij^s'uaj^'e  among  themselves  in  which  the\-  could  discourse 
with  a  speaking  interpreter,  a  degree  of  ingeniiit\-  interfering  with  the 
object  of  their  selection  as  slaves  unable  to  repeat  coii\ersation. 

sicdiisTioNS  TO  ()iisi:i;\i:i;s. 

The  most  importmit  siiggc.stioii  to  persons  interested  in  the  collection 
of  signs  is  that  they  shall  not  too  reailily  abandon  the  attempt  to  disc.iver 
recollections  of  tliein  even  among  tribes  long  exposed  to  Caucasian  inHueiice 
and  ollicially  segregated  from  others. 

During  the  last  week  a  missionary  wrote  that  he  was  concluding  a  con- 
siderable vocabulary  of  signs  linally  procm'ed  Ironi  the   I'onkas,  although 
■  lifter  residiim-  amono-  them  for  years,  with  thorough  familiarity  \\  itli   their 


language,  and  after  special  and  intelligent  exertion  t 


o  oiitam  some  ol 


tl 


leu' 


<iisused  gestur(vlanguan(^,  lu^  had  t 
lorgotteii.     A  similar 


rep  111    was    ma: 


wo  month-,  ago  i'e[)orted  it  to  be  entirelv 

es    anion'''   the 


i)V  two   missionar 


( 


>jil)was,  though  other  trii..lworlhy  authorities  have  furnished  a  list  of 


sei'iis 


silts  IVAI,  IN  ('()SVi;i!S.\  I  lONAi,  ( I IISTIKKS. 


41 


oliiiiiiH'd   iVoin   lliiil   trilir.      l''iirtlicr  (lisnmrii^ccinciit   caiiic  iVmii  nii  Tmliaii 
M^^ciit  j'iNiii;^'  llii'  ili'i'Idcd  stiitciiii'iit,  after  I'oiir  years  di'  iiittTcoiirse  \»itli  ilio 
Pali-l'tes,  thai  UK  sinli  tliiuii'  as  a  i-oiiiimiuicutiuii  by  h'i^^'iis  was  known  nr 
even  reiiieiiiheriMl  liy  tlieiii,  wliicli,  however,  was  hjss  (UlViciih  to  hoar  because 
(111  ihi)  day  of  the  receipt  ot'  that  well-inteiitioiKMl  missive.!  soiuo  ofiii'ors  of 
ihe   Ihireau  of  I'-lhiiolo;z'y  weru  iu:tiially  talUiii^;'  in  si^ns  with  a  (hde<^'atioii 
of  that  very  triix!  of  Imlians  then  in  Wasliin-itoii,  from  oi"  of  wIumu  th(! 
Storv  hereinafter  appearing'  was  received.     The  ditUcidty  in  eoHeetiii.u'  si^ns 
ma V  arise  becaiis(;   Indians  are  often  provoki!i;.;'Iy  reticent  about    their  ohl 
habits  anil  traditions;  because  t!ie\  do  not  distinctly  comprehend  what   is 
somdit  to  be  olitaineih  and  because  sometimes  th(i  art,  abandoned  in  f^cii- 
erab  only  remains  in  the  memories  of  a  ft.'W  [lersons  intlneiiced  by  special 
circumstances  or  individual  fancy. 

In  this  latter  ivu'ard  a  comparison  may  be  made  witli  the  (dd  science 
of  heraldrv,  once  of  practical  us;'  and  a  necessary  jiart  of  a  liberal  educa- 
tion, of  wiiich  hardly  a  score  of  perM.us  in  the  United  States  have  any  but 
theva-ue  knowle<l-e  that  it  once  exi>t."d:  yet  the  united  memories  of  those 
persoi's.  could,  in  the  absence  of  records,  reproduce  all  essential   points  on 

the  subject. 

Kveii  when  the  spe.'iiic  pra.'ticcf  the  si-udan-ua-e  has  been  -lenerally 
discontinued  for  mo,v  than  one  veneration,  either  from   tlu^  a.h.ption  ..f  a 
j,v.mn  or  from  the  common  use  of  the  ton-m-  ..f  the  compierin-  Kno-lish, 
"Fivnch,  or  Spanish,  some  ..f  the  ovstures  tbrmerly  emph.yed  as  substitutes 
for  words  mav  survive  as  a  customary  accompaniment  to  oratory  or  impas- 
sioned conve;sation,  and,  when  ascertained,  shouhl  be  carefully  noted.     An 
example,  anion;,  mauv,  mav   be  tound   in  the   fact    that   the  now  civilized 
Muskoki  or  Creeks,  as  mentioned  by  Kev,  11.  F.  IhcKNEU,  when  speakuig 
^^,.  ^,^^.  ,,^  .,.,,„  ,,(.  ,,,  .,,,i,„„  .,,  ,,omen,  illustrate  their  words  by  hold.no-  their 
bands  at  the  proper  <•l^•vatio.^  palm  up;   but  when  describin;,  the  height  ot 
usouUess"  animals  or   inanimate   objects,  they  hold   the  palm  downward, 
^•his,  when  correlated  with  th.  distinctive  si.,ns  of  other  Indians,  is  an  mtei- 
e.iin.v  c-ase  of  the  survival  of  a  pracli.."  which,  so  lar  as  yet  reported,  the 
..Idesi  men  of  the  tribe  now  living,  onlv  renuMuber  to  have   once   existed. 
1,  is  pn.ba!de  that  a  collection  of  smd.  distinctive  gestures  anion;^  even  the 


42 


i;i.'i;(n;s  to  wiiim  ( (H.Microi.'s  aiM'  i  iaiiik 


iiir  illiciclit    sy^lciii   to 
t'iii|iiir(r  illil  mil   in  liis  sr;iirli   (li,-,co\cr 


riM|U(iiH 


iiiuHt  civilized   ludiiMH  uoiiM  r('|M'i»(|iicc  ciif.iiMli  ,,1'  (| 
lie  \;ilii;ili|c,  even  if  ||ic  |i.  r-,is|(.|it 

'^ •' "'"  il-^  siir\iviiiy  «'iistM(|i;ii|.,  ,.\,.ii  iiiiioiiM.  ('lull,,;,  or  rhcivlvi,  I 

or  Alicii.iki,   ivi;iiii;illi  ov  Niitkil. 

Aliotlic'i;  ivcuiiiiii,.|i(l,it'(.ii  is  |ir,.|ii|,|,.,l  l.y  liic  ("ic)  tli.it  in  tlic  cuII.tI 
an.l  (les,Ti|)fiM„  of  I,Hli;iii  siu,,s  thnv  is  .laii-.T  IcM  iI,,.  dvili/.r.l  iiii,IriM,.,,i,|- 

ili.y  ol'  tho  ori^iliiil  C'OlU'cptiMii  iii.iy  lie  liii-;t,il<cii  ..;■  Cun'cd 
ciTdi-  is  intudi  iii-i-ciis(.  1  wlicn  llu- ((.llccli 
liidiinis   lliciiisi'Krs.  Iiiit   jir, 


Hill 


I  IK'  li;il>ilily  to 
"lis  Mrc  ii.it  t;i!:"ii  dliciil\  iVdin  IJi.. 


i\tii  as  iilitaiiUMi  at 


'I'ciiiid  liaiid    rnnii  \\liit( 


"•.idcrs.  trapiH.rs.aiid  iiiti.ri.n.t..rs  u  li.-,  tIir.iu-lMnisc,i,„viiiinn  in  tli,.  I,,.:.-!,,- 
niii-Miid  tliMi-nuii  iiiUMdiictiMii  or  ni.idilicati.iii  ..f  nvstmvs.  have  pnidiircd 
■•1  jarp.ii  ill  tlic  sin^ii  ;is  well  as  in  the  (iral   int 


that  liis  iiiti'rliiciit<ir 


''•■''"'ii'"^''.      II'  iiii  [iidiaii  fiiid- 


iiiM^ts  ii|Miii  iiii(l(Tstaiidiii;r  and  ii-ii 


ii  |iiii'ticiiiar  iiianncr,  it  is  witliiii  tl 


i,:i'  .'I  cci'tain  si"i 


I  111 


nvstiirc   art — I 


i«\«'iy  iialniv.  icntativ.'  and  elastic,  of  tji 


"""    iHTl.innei's   heiii-  .ui  an  ,.,|nality— tliat  li.-  >| M  nd-ipt 


ill''  "I  "   tliat    seems  t(.  be  ivcunnii,,.,[  ,„.  ,||,|, 


uiiieli  ji'reaterdiilicnlfv  ln'  lias  I 


IS  |iressed   ii|iiin   liin 


Ultil 


with  wliires  hel'in'c  atreiiiptini^'  f 


•■'"'""•''  '"I'l'i'l'tted  many  Inivinn  terms  iis,.,! 


ewn  I'ace.      'j'liii 
eaded  a  /ii/n/ta-f't 


'  "'••I'll''''  tl"'!!'  liin-'iia-v,  Imt  never  vvitli  I 


lis 


s  there,.  nuNv,  ai,d,H.rl,a,,sahvays|,aslH.en,  uhalmav  I, 


ffiia-Jnij/ni  in  tlio  si^'ii  voeaimlarx-.     it  ma\- 1 


t/ie  tribes  of  the  pljiins  haviiin- learned  I; 


I''  .•isecrtaiiicd  that 


yc.xperieiu'ethaf  while  visit 


t.)  receive  certain  sinus  really  (.riyinatiiip-  with  the  1, 
intercourse,  just  as  they  sometimes  do  the  \v,ir.l> 


IM'S  expect 


Itter,   use  them  ill   tl 


icir 


cori-ii 


l)tions 


ot    tile 


Ah 


'■•^'jiKiw    an 


M      pa|)(i()se 


as  the  ]Oiii:'lish  t 


■onkiii,  and  one,,  as  meaniiin'U.ss  in  tl 


onus  "w.iinan-'and  ■'child,"  but  which   the   I 


If    prevent   West 


lia\in;4'  learned  them  (ui  the  Atlant 


ll'st    pioneer; 


li.U'ible.     'I'iiis  process  of  ad; 


If  coast,  insisted  Ml 


re 


ported 


iptation  mav  be  one  of  tl 


niii\ei'sa!  code 


loii  as  ^'eiieialU-  ilitel- 
le  explaiialioiis  o|'  the 


It  is  also  lii"!d 


y   pl'oh; 


lial    siij'iis  w 


"dians  who  may  be  pressed  by  coll,.,.t,irs  lor  tl 


ill    be   in\ri 


\vhi(d 


1  si-ns  ot  course  form  no  part  of  the  current  I 


'•'•d    by  indi\idual 
'••111  to  express  certain  ideas 


a<'t  sh,)uld,  if  jiossible,  be  asc, 
ii'<'  not  vahudess  merelv  I 


'I'tiiiiii'd  and 


i",Viia-e;   but  whil,.  that 


I'i'ported,  tl 


'(•••aiise  the\-  are  origin, ,1 


H-  sin-ns  so  invented 


"'•y  are  made  in  i-ood  faith  am! 


■''iio    iH'l    tradiiioiial,  if 


"I'l    III  accordanct;  with  tl 


10  principles  of  sin-ii- 


■  i(»L/.:.„ 


INSI'ANCI';  OK  «)VI.I!  /i;.\L 


43 


ritriiiiitinii.  'riif  prui'i'ss  rcsciiililcs  the  cnliiiii;;'  dt'  new  udrds  to  wliicli  tin' 
lii;;Ii('r  limi^ilii^'cs  owe  tin  ir  i'(i|ii(ilisiu'ss.  It  is  uitticc*!  in  llu(  si;^lis  iiivciilril 
li\  Iiiijiiiiis  lor  cacii  new  pi'tiiliift  nl'  ti\  ili/.iitinii  hroiiniit  Ic  tlicii'  iinticc 
Less  (I  rnr  will  urisc  in  this  (liivciion  timii  iVoiii  the  iiiisintia'pn'tiitic-n  ul  the 
idea  ilitcliili'il  to  he  coiixcycd  iiy  sjMilitaiicoils  sin-as. 

Tho  iilwiirdity  to  wliidi  ovi'i'-zoiil  uiiiy  bo  cxpoHud  i.s  illitstrakMl  l»y  iiii 
iiiu'C(l..t(!  loiiiid  ill  scvcnd  versions  aiid  in  sovoriil  lan;,nm;;'os,  hut  rciu'iilcd 
as  a  vcritalilc  Scotrli  Irncnd  by  Duufaii  AiidcisoM,  i-scj.,  principal  of  llio 
(!las'.o\v  Itistitiitioii  lor  tlir  Di-al"  and  Diuub,  wluiU  ho  vijiitctl  Wiishinyton 


in  is" 


Kin;;' .lames  1  of  I'ji-land  dolrinu  t"  plii\   i"  li'i«''<-   'il'""    '''*'    ^l'""''^'i 

litioii,  lait  who   had  a  (  I'olchct  in  his  head 


and)assad»)r,  a  man  of  ;;ri  at  cni 


npon  sii;'n-lan;i'na^f,  ni 
of  that  scicm-c  in 


forniid  h'ui  that  there  was  a  distin-^aiisluMl  professor 


that  I 
best  I 


ilace,  l)rece( 


the  Cniversiiv  at  Al)erdeen.     The  ambassador  set  out  lor 
led  bv  a  letter  from  the  Ki)i-' w  itli  instrm-tionrt  to  make  tla^ 


inn. 


There  was  in  the  low  ;i  om 


(Jeordv,  a  bntcher,  blind  of  one  eye 


a  I'ellovv  of  much  wi 


t  and  droUerv.     Ceordy  is  told  to  play  th:-,  part  of  a  pro- 
wled, wi;.;-,!4'C(l,  and  |)laced 


lessor,  with  the  warnim--  not  to  speak  a  word,  is  n-ow 
in  a   (diair  of  slate,  when  the  an 


done   together, 


'resenllv  the   not) 


nbassaihtr  is  shown  in  and  they  are  lelt 
1    ^•'•eath'   jih-ased  with 


lenian   came  on 


tl 


le    e.xpernne 


t,  claiminu'    that    hi^<    tlu'ory  was    demons 


trated.      lit!  ^nid, 


"  When  1  entered  the  room 


1  raised  one  llimcr,  to  siLinify  there  is  one 


(iod. 


He  replied  b\-  raisini;'  two  iin^vrs  to  sija'iu 


l\-  that   this   liein;;'  rules  o\er  two 


worlds,  the  materia 


1  Mild  the  spiritual.      Then  1  raised  three   lin.^.TS,  to  say 


tl 


lere  are  three  persons  m 


the( 


loillieai 


I.   lb 


lien    I 


losed  his  rni!>-(n's,  e\i- 


deiitlv  to  sav  these  three  are  (nx. 


tl 


le    nobleman 


(I'ol'essors    sent 


took    phi'-e  in   the    reeitatioii-rooin. 


"  When  tin-  crazy  man  eiitere 
as  innch  as  to  say,  I   had  but  one  ev 
that  I  could  see  out  of  my  one  eye  : 
When  he  raisei 


After  this  explanation  on  the  part  of 

for  the  butcher  and   asked  him  what 

lie   appeared  v  ry  aii.ury  and    said, 

here  I  was  lu^  raised  one  liiiLi'er, 

I  I  raised  two  tin;;ers  to  signify 

I  out  of  both  of  his. 


the  room  w 


e.  a.iii 


well  as  he  coiih 


I  tlinr  limivrs,  as  much  as  to  say  there  w( 


re  but   Ihree  eves 


'tween  us, 


1  (huibled  up  my 


list  and  if  h»^  hiid  not  gone  out  of  that  r 


ooin 


111  a 


luirrv  I  would  have  kimcked  him  (h.wu. 


m^ 


44 


sim:i:l'iies  and  stdimiis  dhsikkd. 


Hv  tar  llio  most  satisfactorv  iiukIc  of 


nnim'ai'ciiratc  sio'ns  is  to  indn 


the  Iinlians  to  t(>ll  stories,  make  spi'cclies,  or  hold  tall 
of  tlieiuselvos  as  inlerprerer  in  his  ,,wii  oral  laiioMia-e  if  the  lattei   is  nml 
stood  by  the  observer,  and  if  not,  tin.  words,  not  the  sio-iis,  shoul 
lateil  b\-  an  int..M-mo(liarv  wnit 


CO 


<s  ui  ^cstiu'e,  with  one 


er 


d  he  tran^ 


e  inrer,.reter.      It  will  be  easv  afoTward 


ti 


<lis 


seet  anu  separate  the  particnlar  sipis  used.     Tliis  mode  will  d 


the  ii'emiine  sliade  of  i 

n-\v  adopted  by  the    Bureau  of  llthuolo^'v  for  the  stud\-  of  t 


I'tennint 


neanni-'  of  earli  siii'ii.  and  corresponds  with  the  plaii 


\'oc'al  lauLi'ua^ 


•es.   ni:- 


poses,  wliicu   was  ti 


adapted  to  iis  t>'rms  and  id 


'I  ol   tliat  ai'isim:'  out  of  extdnsiNcK'  mi? 
■ree  a   tran.slalion   of  the   lliblc   l 


I'as.  aiKt   then   ti 


tionary  from  the  artiiieial  result.     A    littl 


le  ahoriLi'Mial 
•siouary  pur- 
rom  a   toni^MU'  not 
compile  a  ,L;rannnar  and  iVn- 


intelligont  or  conipl; 
f.rwl 


0  in-vmiitv  will  diivct  the  nion 


iisanr  -esturers  to  the  expression  of  the  thou-ht 


ncii  ai'o  snceialK 


s,  sl^•ns 


and  talks  witi 


■^ou-iil  :   and   t'nll   orderl 


tl 


'  Of  I  veil  nithout   anah'sis  and   illu.- 


y  descriptions  of  siii'li  tah 


lan  any  other  h'rin  ol'  eoiit 


have  been  found  in  print,  and  die  I 


riliiilioii.      Xo  such  d 


iralioii   are   more  desired 
escriptions  ot'  aii\-  \aliu' 


correspoiidcm.,1  ,,j'  (| 


emulation    will    I 


le    present    writer   i,- 
>•'    excitnl.      It    !.>,    th, 


)est   one   thus    far  olitaiiied 
1 


hrouL;li  tlie 


s   ,L;'iveii   l)elow,  witli   the   1 


lope   that 


(Spectacles),    uieill 


eiue-maii   of   tin.  \\' 


ICll 


on   Ins   departure   from    the   Wicnita  Ai;' 


■■M-eweil    address   of    Ki,,    ('hr-rss 
ii;i-.    to   Missioiiar\    A.   ,1.    i|.,i/r 


vncy,  in  the  words  of  tin.  hiit 


er, 


A    SI-KKciI    IN    siii.\.> 


TI 


t>  placed  one  hand  on  mv  breast,  th 


Ins  two  hands  t 


li'  otliei-  oil  hi> 


".a'ellier  after  the  ma: 


own,  then   clasiici 


JriniiN.      II,.  plarod  one  hand 


iiicr  ol   dur  coii^;rat 


Illation^ 


»i  ''   (iir 


on  me,  tiu'  ot 


In-st  two  tin 


irers  ol   his  ri^'ht  hand  I 


":'•  ""  liiniself,  tluMi    placed   llu 


•elweeii  his  lips,— ||V  arr  I. 


placed  Ins  n^'lit 
linked  tiie  lii-st  1 


(!<■     Illl 


l»:i,tlni\      11,.  laid  1 


l'-"id  over  my  h.-art.  his  l,.fi  hand 

ni-ers  of  his  n;.ht  and  Irft   hands,--0,,r  h 


Ih 


1 11  III  rs. 


over  Ins  own  hearl.  ti 


lell 


lis  riu'Iil  hand 


wllh  thekiiuckl..s  liuhtlva-ainst  1 


'iriir/s  (irr  IniL-iil 
""   ""■  'i^li'l.v.  then   put   it   to  his  mouth. 


lis  lips,  ai 


water  from  the  ri,-lil-!i;ind   Ibrel 


"I  ;na(|c  the  niot 


loll 


ii'oin  the  iiiouth  a  foot 


'ii:-;''r,  eaeh   Hip  cast.nu.   th,.   h 


'  I'liis  I'ejiealed  ll 


or  so,  tncii    briiiM-in..'  i|    | 


e.     Illppilio' 

iiid   and   arm 


>acl^   in   th 


!■(■■■  or  moi'o  In 


'•  same    jiositiuii. 


iie>,  sij.'nilyiii^  "lalk"  or 


alknii;-.  ) 


If  iliiii 


sim:i;('ii  oi'  kin  ciiRiiss. 


45 


niiulo  ;i  iiiotiuii  with  liis  i-i^hl  liaml  ;is  it' lu'  wci'c  r:iiiiiint;-  liis  I'ij^lit  t^ar ;   tliis 
repeated,      lie  tlu'ii  extetuled  liis  ri^ilit  liaiiil  with   Iiis  iiuh'X-liuu'er  poiiitiiii;- 


Iso  hriiiL;'   tiinieil   upward, —  )'<i;i   (old   me   of  I  lie   (Iri'it 
l^li''till^•  tti  liimsch',  he  hn;;;;ed   l)iith   h::iids  to  his  Ixisoin,  as  il'  lie 


upwanl,  Ills  eyes   a 
I'atlin: 


iin 


itel 


wore  al!eetionatel\   elasiiiiiu'  smne 


tl 


111  tlio  way  iielore  ilesi 


tliiiii:-  he  hived,  and  iheii   pointed  upward 
lied.—/  lore  liiiii  (the  (!reat    l''atlier).      Layiiiti'  his 
ri,!.',ht  hand  on  nie,  he  clasped  his  hands  to  his  hosom  as  lietore, — /  hirr  i/dk. 

\  shoulder,  he   thiiw   it   over   his   own    riyht 


Vh 


uaiiij;'  his   n^lit    haiul  oii   ni 


shoulder  as  if  hi'  were  cnstiiiii-  liehind  him  a  little  (diip,  old}-  wlien  his  hand 
was  over  his  shoulder  his   iiidex-liiii^cr  was  pnintinti'  hehii 


1(1   liiin 


) 


(l>l   (jO 


(urivj. 


i'ointiiii;'  to   his  lireast,  he   clinched   ihe  same  hand  as  il   it  held  a 

t'  he  Were  ir\  iii^'  to   strike  somethin;^-  on  the 
le  slick  lieM  ill  an  iipri,i;ht  position, — /  .s7(^//,  or 


stick,  and   made  a   inotutn  ;is  i 


<;r(Uiud  with  tlie  liotlom 


1  slajl  r  if/lit  lie  ft 


acins^i'    Ins    ri^lit    hand    on    me 


he    placed    hotli   his  hands   on    1 


lis 


breast  and   l)reathed  deeply  two  nr  three  times,  then  usiii"-  the  iiidex-iiii<;-er 


and   tliuinl)   of  each   1 


laiiil 


the  two  iianiis  in  this  po 


as   it'  he    were   holilin^'  a   small    pin,   tie   placed 

read  ill    eacli  hand 


itioii  as  ii'  he  were  holdinu'  a  ill 


and  between   llie   ihuml)  and   torelin-vr  of  each   hand  close   to.i^ether,  and 

r,  still   luddiu-;'  his  liny-ers  in  the 


tlien  h't  his  hands  rece( 


le   from   each  otiu 


lettinu'  a   thread  sli))  between  them   until    his 

l.a\iiii;'  his  rii;lit    hand  on 

iddinir  it  from 


name  position,  as  it    hi'  were 

bauds  wer.'  two  I'eet  apart,—  )'"/'  Hi'f  <'»"      ""'■ 

liis  bri'ast,  tiieii  exleiidin-  his  t'oivliii-vr  of  the  same 

liiiii  ai   half-arm's  len,i:ili,  the  lin-i  r  pointliur  nearly  upward,  then   nioviii-- 


ami 


bi.- 


iiaiiil,  w 


ilh  the  liiii;er  thus  exteiidci 


as  a  man  steps  ii 


1  walking:',  each  time   lettinj. 


1.  from  side  to  side  about   as  rapidly 
his  liaiid  i^'ct  farther  from  him 


for  tlirei'  or  lour   limes,  then   -iidd 
position  with  the  iiii:;'ers  exteiK 


ill\-  li! 


aciii^  his  left  hand  in  a  ho.-i/.ontal 
leil  and  tot;ctIier  so   that   the  iiahn  wiis  side- 


vvis(\  lie  used 


he  rieliiliaiid   | 


aim  e\ 


tended,  tiiiL;-ers  toj;('ther,  as  a  batchet, 


and  broiieht  it  down  smai 


tl\  .  just   missiue-  the  ends  o 


f  the  liuners  (>f  the  lett. 


hand 


hell  iilaciiii;-  Ills  led  ham 


lis  heart,  he  liroii 


then,  a: 


il  he  Wv'i'e  lioldiii;. 


moved  his  riL^lit  hand  away  as  il 


I.  with  the  tliiiml)  and  foreliui^'er  (dosed,  to 

rhi  his  ri'.Jit  hand,  lin-vrs  in  the  same  i)ositioii,  to  his  lett, 

etweeii  his  thumb  and  fore  linger,  ho 

)wl\   castin,^-  a    hair  frou.   him, 


^nlilelliniL;'   h 


lie  were  si 


rr 


4G 


si'KKcii  «)i'  Kix  ciir:  KSS. 


liis  k'lt  liaiid  roniJiiniiio'  at  his  breast,  and  liis  cyos  followinn-  his  liu-lit  — / 


ahmi  (I  lUlIc  ivhilv  Ion 


ff" 


(or  will  dii 


'/',;  hilt  will  In:  cut  off  sliiiytlii  anil 


III 


I'l; 


//  sjiirit  /rill  f/o  ii/rai/ 


U'lii^'  the  tliiuiilis  and  lorelinyvrs  ayaiii  i 


11  siicli  a  j)()siti()n 


relin^^cr  of  each  hand, 


as  if  he  held  a  small  thread  hetwreii  the  tlunnh  ami  f( 

and  the  hands  touching-  eacdi  ether,  he  drew  his  jiands  slowl 

other,  as  if  he  were  stretohin-  a  piece  of  onn,-e!asiic:   th,.,,  lavino-  ], 

hand 


\-  fr 


oni  eacli 
is  rinht, 


on  me,  he  extended   the   left   hand  in  a  hori/...ntal  positicn,  iin-'er- 


naers  extended 


iiigers  of  Ids  left  hand;   tl 


len 


extended  and  closed,  and  brouoht  ,h)\vn  his  rioht  hand  with  11 
and  toyether,  so  as  to  just  miss  the  lips  of  the  i 

placino.  his  left  forefinger  iind  tlmml,  against  his  heart,  he  acted  as  if  ho 
took  a  hair  from  the  forelinger  and  thnnd)  of  his  Ictt  hand  with  the  fore- 
linger  and  thund)  of  the  right,  and  sh,wly  cast  it  from  him,  only  k-ttin.-  his 


left  hand  I'emain  at  his  1 
Jioint  outward  toward  tl 


placmg-  his  k-fr  hand  upon  himscll'  and  1 
tl 


»rcasr,  and   let  the  indrx-tingvr  of  the  rig-ht  Jiand 

(I  loiiil  time  ijou  (lie,    Wlien 


le  distant  horizon, — .1 /h 


leni  u 


1 


pward  over  his  hvnd  and  clasped  them  there,— Jr* 


lis  right  hand  njion  me,  he  extended 


onitmg'  upward,  then  to  himstdf,  then  t< 


Ct/U'll  lilli't  in  ll 


(■(ircii. 


finger  of  his  ri^ht  hand,  1; 


me,  he  closed  the  ihird  and  littk 


first  and  second  i 


lying  his  thumb 


over  them,  then  extending-  li 


IS 


to  his  eves,  liutivi 


ingers  about  as  far  apart  as  tl 


up  th 


s  pointing  outward. 


10  c\QA,  he  lironght  his  hand 


cr<\ 


Pointi 


and  shot  his  hand  outward. — / 


JOOK, 


tl 


11,^-   to  uie,  then   giving-  the   1; 


■svr  110  It 


1st    above-d 


K-n  ])oiining  to  himself,  he  made   th 


escribed  smn  o 


piece  of  gum-elastic   I 


then  made  tl 


letwi'eii    the  iini;'ei> 


10  sign  of  "ciit-olF"  I)efore  d 


■^igii  as  if  stre1(dniig-  out  a 
his  left  and  vv^hx  hands,  and 


lorizo 


]»alm  of  the  right  hand  1 
then  suddenlv  threw  it  lial 


ntall 


('••-scribed,  and  then    extended   th 


v  a  foot  fr 


oni  ins  waist,  inside  d 


ownwai'd 


over  and    Iroin   l.'im,  as  if 


cm 


]•  ironi   the 


nac 


of   the  hand  (tl 


^■ou  were  to  t( 


<s  a 


'i\i^i'n  anionij 


th 


lis   is   the    1 


be  cut  iff,  ).  r.,  al 


•se  Indians), — /  icould 


legative    sign    everxwhen 


■^11  him  a  loiKi  t 


7  tiiii, ,  irjiich  xIkhiIiI  )ii 


\va  \s. 


CO- 


ointing    upwanl,   then    riibl,ing    H,,.    ]„,k  of   his    ] 


^vitli    the    foreli 
^o  IniViim  III 


n.Lier    of'  1 


lis    riojit. 


eft   hand  lii^'htb 


'''■    (111   liea\('n 


iie   again    gave    tlie    nenat 


ive 


Sl"ll, 


liii^vr  o\,.,-  the   back   of 


.  (I  It 


hill 


iii\-  hand,   1 


"'"iting   npwar.l,  then   riild-ino'  |iis    f,.n 


IIKIII  th 


rr> 


II 


'<■  again   ina( 


e   made 


th 


lie     neL;atl\e    sion. 


•same   si-n  again,  only  he  Mt   \u<   I 


lair 


'^ 


A  STOltV   IN  SKiNS. 


47 


4 


with  tlui  Cn n ■  (i  11, n'cr  iiiul  tlmiiil)  of  his  li^lit  luuid,  rolling  the  hair  several 
tiiiu's  hi'twccii  the  (iii^'ers, — j\nlil(i(l,-  iikui  nilivan'ti.    Then  rubbing' the  back 
of  liis  liaiul  and  niakiug  tlu'  negative  sign,  rubbing  the  back  of  my  han.l 
and  making  tlie  negative  sign,  feeling  of  one  of  his  hairs  with  the  thumb 
and  forethigcr  of  his  right  hand,  and  making  the  negative  sign,  then  using 
b(»tli  hands  as  if  he  were  reaching  around  a  hogshead,  he  brought  the  fore- 
iiii"-cr  of  his  riglit  haml  to  the  I'ront  in  an  upright  position  after  their  man- 
lier of  counting,  and  said  thereby,— A'o  liuUan,  m  ivhite  man,  no  Hack  man, 
all  one.     lAIaking  the  "hogshead"  sign,  and  that  for  "look,"  he  placed  the 
foreiiiiger  of  each  hand  siik'  by  si(k>  pointing  upward, — All  look  Ihc  same,  or 
alike.      Hnnning  his   hands  over  his  wild   Indian   ctistume   and  over   my 
clothes,  he   made   the   "hogshead"  sign,  and    that    for  "same,"  and   said 
tliereby,— J//  ''."'■«  "/'/'<;  '/"■'''•     'l"''^"   wdVw^  the  "  hogshead"  sign,  and 
that  for  "love"  (hugging  his  hainh),  he  extended   both  hands  outward, 
palms  turned  downward,  and  made  a  sign  exactly  similar  to  the  way  ladies 
smooth  a  bed  in  making  if,  this  is  the  sign  for  "  happy,"— ^1//  mil  he  happi/ 
alike  there,     lie  then  made  tlie  sign  for  "talk,"  and  for  "  Father,"  pointing  to 
himself  and  t,-.  me,—  )'"/'  pnni /or  n,r.    lie  then  made  the  sign  for  ^^go  anwj," 
pointing  to  UH',  he  ihrew  right   hand  over  his  right   shoulder  so  his  index- 
ilnger  pointi'd  Ind.ind   liim,—  Von  r  ,ura>i.     Tailing  his  name  he  made  the 
sign  for  "  lo.dv"  aii.l  the  sign  of  n.-ation  after  pouiting  to  me,— /v/«  Clie-tiss 
«rc  ijoK  no  more. 


Tlu.  Iblh.wing,  which  is  presented  as  a  better  descriptive  model,  was 
obtain<..l  by  Dr.  W.  J.  lloii  max.  of  the  Ihireau  ..f  I'.thnology,  fr<.m  Natshes, 
the'  I'ah-r"t.'  .•hi.'f  <-onn..rre.i  uith  th(.  delegation  before  mentioned,  and 
ivfeis  t<.  ai>  expedition  n>ade  l,y  him  by  direction  of  his  father,  Wiiine- 
^^^,,^.^„,  ii,,„ic|,i,.f  of  the  I'ah-rn.s,  to  the  iKMthern  camp  of  his  tribe, 
partlv'for  the  purpose  of  preventing  the  hostile  ontluvak  of  the  Bannocks 
which  ,.e..urred  in  IsTS.and  more  pani.'ularly  to  prevent  tlu.scl'ah-Utes 
tVom  being  <lrawn  into  any  dltliculty  with  the  authorities  by  bemg  leagued 
with  the  Bannocks. 


48 


A  STOltY   !N  SICNS. 


A  STOKY   IN  SKINS. 

(I)  Close  tlie  rif^lit  liniid,  IcjivinL;'  the  index  cxtciHlcd,  pointed  wost- 
wiird  at  arm's  length  a  little  i'Ihinc  the  lioi'izoii,  head  thrown  back  with 
the  eyes  partly  closed  and  tollowiiiy'  ilic  direction. — Jinii/  to  tl/c  /rest,  (2) 
indicate  a  larjic  circle  on  the  ^^round  with  the  t'orclinii'er  of  the  rij.ilit  hand 
l)ointiiig' downward. — place  (locative),  (3)  the  tips  of  the  spread  linjj'ers  of  hotlj 
liands  ])laced  ay-ainst  one  another,  pointinu"  npward  l)el'ore  the  bodv,  leav- 
ino-  a  space  ol'  fonr  or  live  inches  between  the  wrists. — lio/isr  (brush  tent  or 
wick  -i-np),  {A)  with  the  riiiht  hand  closed,  iiuh^x  extended  or  sliohtlv  bent, 
tap  the  breast  se\-eral  times.— /y//;/c.  (5)  Draw  an  imaginary  line,  with 
the  ri;iht  index  toward  the  i^round.  from  some  distance  in  front  of  the  bodv 
to  a  jxisition  nearer  to  \t,—J'n>ii/  lltnr  l  caiiir,  (C)  indicate  a  spot  on  tlio 
ground  l)y  (piickly  raisin^'  and  de|)ressing-  the  right  hand  with  the  index 
l)ointing  downward.— A^  a  sh.jqnuji  plan;  (7)  grasp  the  forelock  with  the 
right  hand,  palm  to  the  forehead,  and  raise  it  about  six  inches,  still  holdiu"- 

In 

the  hair  upward,— ///c  chief  of  the  tn1,<'  ( Winneuuu'ca),  {X)  touch  the  breast 
with  the  iii,hx,— /»c,  (0)  the  riglit  lian<l  held  forward  from  the  hip  at  the 
level  (if  tile  elbow,  (dosed,  palm  downw.ird,  with  the  mi(hlle  iin"'er  ex- 
tended  juhI  (juirkly  moved  up  and  down  a  short  distaice,— /c/c/y/Yf^^Z/cf/, 
(10)  head  inrliued  toward  the  right,  at  the  same  time  making  niove- 
nu'iit  toward  and  fmm  the  ear  with  the  exrended  index  pointing  towards 
it, — /  hi'urd,  i.  c,  understood. 

(II)  An  imaginary  line  indicated  with  the  extended  and  inverted  index 
from  a  short  distance  Ijefore  the  b(,dy  to  a  place  on  the  right.— / /n///,  (1l') 
repeat  gesture  No.  (i,— «  stoppin,/  plaer^  {\\\)  imdining  the  head,  witli  eves 
closed,  toward  the  right,  bring  th..  exten.h'd  right  hand,  p.alm  up,  to  within 


six  inches    of  the  right    ear, — trln're    I  si, 


I'f.     (II)    riace  th 


e  spread 


and 


exten( 


led  index  and  tluiml)  of  the  right  hand,  palm  d 


right   side   of  the   forehead,— «•// /7c 


ownward,  across  the 


nands 


bet 


iiitiii    (American),    (If))    elevatini.-  both 


ore  tlie   !)reast, 


})alms  forward,  thund)s  touching,  the  lifde  {iiin-er 
'.f  the  right    hand  elos,..!,- /,,>,  (l(i)  toueh  the  breast  with  the  ri-ht  f '* 
linger  suddenly,— r/;,^/ /»//,sr//;  (17)  h.wrring  the   hand 
Wiu-d  and  tbrward  witli  tlh'  index  still   extended  (tl 


ore 


and  pointing  dov.n- 


le  i'emaniin 


thmnb  bein-   looselx    closed)  Indicat.'  an  imaginarv  Hue  alon^'   tl 


g  Inigers  and 


le  i^round 


A  STOIfV   IN  Sir, MS. 


40 


toward  \ho  ('Xtrcinc  ri^lit, — iroif,  (iS)  extend  the  turei'uigor  oi'  the  cdosod 
loft  hand,  iind  place  the  sopm-ated  fore  niid  second  linu'ers  of  tlic  ri^lit 
astrachllt;  the  forolinji-cr  of  tlie  h-ft.  and  make  a  series  (»f  arched  or  curved 
movements  toward  the  ri;^lit, — ro'lf  l/drsi'hiii-':,  (l!l)  keepin";'  the  hands  in 
(heir  rtdative  position,  place  them  a  sho\t  distance  Ixdow  the  v\'^\\\  ear,  the 
head  beinjj;'  inclinrd  townrd  that  side, —  .7rr;;,  (_'())  rep.'at  the  sijrns  for  ridii/fj 
(No.  IS)  i\\u\  slcrj/nifi  (No.  r.»)  three  times,— ;/o/r/-  (l(i;/^aii(l  iiii/h'.s,  (21)  make 
si<m  No.  IS,  and  stopi)in,u'  suddenly  point  toward  the  east  with  tlie  cxtendiid 
index-iiii;|er  of  the  ri,i;ht  (others  ])rh]<f;  closed)  and  follow  the  course  of  the 
sun  until  it  reaches  the  zenith, — arnrrd  (it  imtu.  of  the  Jiflh  day 

(22)   Indicate  a  circle  as  in  No.  2,—''  (uwii,  (2.'))  the  hands  then  placed 
too-ether  as  in  No.  o.  and  in   this  ixisition,  hoth  moved  in  short  irrej^-ular 
upward  and  downward  jerks  from  side  to  side, — ukuiji  iric//-i-iips,  (24)  then 
indicate  tlie  chief  of  the  trihe  as  in  No.  7, — meanin,i>-  that  it  «y?.s  one  of  the 
ramps  oj' tl<r  elihf  of  tin    Irilir.     (2."))   .Make  a  pecidiar  whistlinu' sound  of 
"phew"  and  draw  the  extended  index  of  the  ri,i>iit  hand  acros.-,  the  throat 
from  left  to  r'vj:ht,—ll(iiu>ork,  fiC)  draw  an  imaizinary  line  with  the  same 
extended  index,  pointini;'  toward  the  around,  from  the  ri,u'ht  to  the  l)ody,— 
came  from  the  north,  (27)  a-ain  make  -esture  No.  -l^-eanip,  (2S)  and  follow 
it  twice  1)\-  si;.in  o'iNcn  as  No.  IS  (f<irward  from  the  hody,  but  a  short  dis- 
tance),—/"'^ >'"'<■■     (-'■')  !'"'■  ^''*'  ^»"*''^  ^'^'^^'^  ^"'"^^^  ^''^"'^  ^^''*^'  ^''^  extended 
index  of  the  left.— ///'//«»,  i.  e..  the  narrator's  own  tribe,  Pah-Ute,  (.".O)  ele- 
vate  both    hands   side  by  si.le   before  the  brea.st,  palms  forward,  tluunbs 
touchin|.',  then,  after  a  short  pause,  close  all  the  fin-ers  and  thumbs  except 
the  tw.router  iinovrs  ..f  ih.-  ri-ht  h:uu\,—t>rrlre.  (;",!)  a-ain  place  the  hands 
si,h-  bv  si.le  uith  fm.iivrs  all  spread  or  separated,  and  move  them  in  a  Iw.ri- 
zontal' curve  f.ward  the  rl-lit,— ^n/,/  out  of  ean>j>,  (.'12)  and  make  the  si-n 
„•,.,.„  ,,,  X,,  •_.-,_/.„„;,,,/■   (;l,r)  that  of  No.  '2—rau>i>,  (.'U)  then  join  the 
hands  as  in  N.).  .".l,  fron.  the  ri^ht  towards  the  Wouu—Pah-Utcs  rctimml,  (35) 
clo.se  tlu'  riuht  hand,  Ic;  viu-  the  index  only  extended,  move  it  forward  and 
downward  from  tlu'  moath  three  or  four  times,  pointin-  forward,  each  time 
endin-  the  n.oven.ent  at  a  different  point,-/  talked  to  them,  m)  both  hatuls 
p„int-n..-  upward,   f.n-ers  and  tlumd.s  separate.l.  pahns  faciu-  and  ab.mt 
f.,„,  iuehes  apart,  hel.l  in  front  of  the  b-nly  as  far  as  pos.sible  m  that  posi- 
•t  s   I. 


50 


A  STOi.'V   IN  SKiNS. 


ti,,ii, — ///,■  nun  III  (oiiiK/l,  ['M)  point  towiinl  the  t'nst  witli  tlii'  index  npiKir- 
Idwinviinl  o\(-T  the  horizon,  then  j;ra(ln;illy  flcviite  it  to  iui 


i'iitl\'  ciirvnii:'  ( 


illitudi'  oi'  lA   . — Idlhd  (ill  iiii/lit  mill  iiiilil  iihiri)'ihiil;  iiv.rt  iiinniiiii/,  (.'JS)  l)rinj,^ 
h  i'ordinLicrs  cxti  inK'd,  npwnrd  iind  torwiiril  from  tlioir 


the  cldM'd  hands,  wit 


icspcrtivo  sides,  and  plaiT  tlicni  side  l)y  side,  palms  forward,  in  front, — )iiii 
hrolliir.  (.'ilO  followed  by  the  i^'esture.  No.  \^,  directed  toward  the  left  and 
front, — mdr,  (40)  1)\-  No.  7, — tlir  limd  cliiif,  [Al)  and  Xo.  L', — uniiji. 

(1-J)  Continue  1)\-  plaeini;'  the  hands,  s;"i>-htly  enrNcd,  palm  to  palm, 
holdiui;' them  ahout  si\  inches  Ixdow  the  rii^'ht  ear.  the  head  beinj^'  incdined 
considerahlv  in  thai  ilirt'ctioii, — (nif  slvcp  {uii/lil),  (l.'i)  make  sij^n  Xo.  1-1, — 
irliilc  iiKiii,  (11)  raise  tlu-  left  hanil   to  tlii'   levcd   of  the  elliow  forward   fi'om 


the  Iclt   1 
(45) 


up.  ln!L;'iTs 


pointinL;'  upward,  thundi  and  foretinyer  closed, — tin 


re, 


15)  and  in  this  position  draw  t\n-m  toward  the  hody  and  slii^'htly  to  tlio 
ri<;ht. — nunc,  i  Huthen  make  i:'estur*(  Xo.  4i, — sicp;  (47)  point  with  the 
riiiht  index  to  the  eastern  horizon. — in  tlic  iiioniiiiii,  '-IS)  make  si<^'n  Xo. 
1-1. — t/vVc /y/^/y/,  ^ 411),  hold  the  left  hand  nearly  at  arm's  Iciii^th  before  th(! 
bo(l\ ,  l)ack  up,  thinnl)  and  ioi'ctiiiirer  (dosed,  the  remaining;'  fniLi'ers  ])ointiny 
downward. — ihiii\  (,')(')  witli  the  riii'ht  index-liiiLicr  make  j^esture  Xo.  o5, 
the  ino\(nient  lieiuL;'  directed  towards  the  Ict't  hand, — talbd  la  llicin,  {f>}) 
motion  aloiiL:'  tlu'  i^i'ound  with  the  left  hand,  from  the  body  toward  the  left 
and  I'roiil,  retaining;  t!ie  position  <if  the  iliiL^-eis  Just  stated  (in  Xo.  4!>), — 
fli(f)  iruit.  (,")■_*)  tap  toward  the  i^round,  as  in  j^csture  Xo.  (i,  with  the  left 
hand  iicarK'  at  annV  IciiLi'th. — /(*  flirir  <uiiiji. 

(")."))  Make  gesture  Xo.  Is  toward  the  I'ront. — /  r<iili\  (.")4)  extend  the 
riyht  hand  to  the  h-ft  and  fi'oid,  ,ind  tap  towards  tlu'  earth  several  times  as 
in  >iuii  No.  (i,  haxiiiL;-  the  liuui'i's  and  thnml*  collected  to  a  point, — ninip  nf 
ilii'  irhili'  inc',1       ( ,"i.'»  I  ( "lose    both  l;auds,  with   the   t'orelini^'ers  of  ea(4i    iiartly 


extended  and  crniikrd.  ami 


place  one  on  either  side  o 


tl 


It   me   lorelieail,  Dalms 


or- 


forward, —  tiilh'  (a  steer).  (.'iC)  hold  the  left  hand  loosely  extended,  back  t' 
ward,  about  twenty  inches  licfore  the  breast,  and  strike  the  liack  of  the 
])artly  eMen-led  I'iiiiit  hand  into  the  h  ft, — shut,  {'u)  make  a  sliort  upward 
curved   iiio\ cnieiit   with    liotli   hands,   their   position    umdiai 


mcii,  over   and 


downward  toward  the  ri-lit,— /r// ^-rrr.  /.//Av/,  (oS)  then  hold  the  h4t  handu 
.short  distance  bel'oiv  the  body  at  the  height  of  the  (41)ow,  i.alm  downward, 


k^ 


filiU' 


ors  ( 


A  STOlfV   IN  SKINS. 


loscd,   with   the   tlinmh   lyin;^-  over  the  sec 


lilK 


51 


I   juiur   (•!'    the   loH'- 


iiiilicr,  ex 


1)V  Vlli'   klllll'Kli'S 


tend   till'   iliittiMicil   riL;lit   Imii 


1.  cdiiv  down.  Iiclorc  tlic  ln.dy,  just 


\\n- 


left   and.  draw  llic  liand  ti.wanU  tlic  li.xlv,  iviicatni' 


tlic  niiiNfUic 


,,|^_,,/,/;^,Vrv/,   (;.!))    Hiakf     tile    sinll     .LilVCU     U 
.th 


No.  ■_>."), — Ilanii<)i'h\ 


((10)  place  l)()tli  lianils  witn  s 


pi-cad  lin^vrs  upward  and  palms  uirwanl, 


1,  tlm 


iui> 


to  timinli, 


hclorc  till-  ri-lit  shoulder,  niovni.L;' 


ihi'ni  wllli  a  trenndoiis   nioliou 


tow  a 


I'd    tlie    left   and   iVoul, — • '( 


ilir    III,   (I) 


(i.)   make   tliree    short    uioveiuents 


d  th 


toward  tlie  '^roi 


md  in  iVont,  with 


1 


)o'in 


Uw;  downward, — "";/;/ 


the  left  haiKh  iinpTs  h.osely  curved,  and 
(,•_*)  then  with  tlie  rijrht. 


,1'  ilic  llifir    irliitc    inrii,  ( 


hand  opei 


I  am 


1  llatteneil,  ed-'e  down,  cut  lowar 


ds  the  hodv  as  well  us  to  th 


/(■(if,  ( i;,".)   ami   make 


the  pantomimic  <;-e 


sturc  of 


rio-ht  and  left, — iiit  "/'  '/"'  " 
luuidbui  it  aroiiiiii  i'>  Ihr  ri-^il"ry.  ,     ,  .  i       i 

((U)  M.ke  si.-i  V...  r..  the  movement  hein-  dire.-ted  to  the  hdt  hand, 
■IS  hehl  in  \o  -11.,-/"/,/  //.■  irliilr  iiini.  ( Co )  -raspiiii.'  tlu-  hair  on  tlu"  ri-ht  side 
of  the  head  with  the  lel^  hand,  and  drawiii.^  the  extended  ri;xht  hand  with 
the  ed..v  towards  and  across  the  side  of  the  head  fnan  hehin  1  lorward,-/o 
scalp;  W)  .lose  the  ri,h.  hand,  leaving,  the  index  partly  expended,  and  wave 
U  i;!!  time.  Muiekly  inaii  .ide  to  side  a  .hort  distam.e  helore  the  iac^ 

sli-htlv  shakin,.  the  head  a.  the  same  time.-..,  (OT )  make  ,estu.v  ^a  4 

,,;  ,,;;)  repeat  No.  (.o,-.    >.  i';.,  and   raisin,  the  lorelock  lu,h  w.tU  the 

"i;  Ld,    trai,h,en   the  whoh.  .Vanie  with  a   triumphant  a,r,-..r  ..^  ^ 

1,1;      (TU)   (dose  the  ri,lnhaml  with  the  index  tnlly  extended,  place 

I     ifth^nluh  and  direct  it  hriniy  .orward  and  downward  towardt^^^ 

Ja  _..,,,  U  n  then  placin,  thMiands,  pointing   upward,  side  1.V  side, 

;^;  tonidmi.  and  all   .he  .hi,ei.  ..parated,  niove   them  Irom  near  d. 

t  out.ard  toward  the  ri,h.,  pahns  laciii,  that  direcnon  at  terunnpon 

Lvement.-//.    // i.r,.    in.f   ,.  .ir   ..I.  U2)   ^.U    the    r„lu    hanu 

"'    ""  •      ,.,iHt    toward    the  weslcTU    horizon. 


dosed,  iiuh'X   curvei 


i,  palm  ilownward.  p 


and  at  arms   U 


h  dill  the   iin.ii'i 


nirtn  dil 


r  downwa 


rd. — nfii'i'  ■''■""•''■ 


(UK 


^ture  u'lveii  as 

/   /.    (.7."))   COH' 


Xo.  14, — ii'i'it''  III"''  *.  * 


■[)  pc.intliiLi- to  the  heart  a 


7,  (To)  make  tin 
in  No.  h— 


•hide  1»\  makin-'  'j;^' 


^ture  No    IS  tivim  near 


hodv  toward  the 


left.  h>ur  time 


the  end 


eacli 


t    ihe  hands  remainiu;^'  ni 


sa 


me  i)osition,  throw 


11  sliii-htly  u|)W 


moNemeii 
ard, — ivr  Jour  cscajici 


tl 


10 


/  oil  horseback. 


r>2 


OltAL  I'AKAl  IIIJASH  OK  TIIH  STOWY, 


Tho  iibovo  WMs  ])Mrai)lirnsc(I  oriilly  bj'tlio  iiarnitor  as  follows :  Tr('!inTir» 
of  tlic  trouble  in  tlio  north,  I  started  eastward  from  my  camp  in  Western 
Nevada,  when,  u|)on  arriving  at  Winnemncca  Station,  1  roeeived  telegraphic 
orders  from  the  head  cliiof  to  go  north  to  indiuuf  our  bands  in  that  region 
to  escape  the  approaching  dilHculties  with  the  Mannocks.  1  started  for  (!amp 
.Mcl>ern>it,  where  I  remained  one  niglit.  I^'aving  next  morning  in  com- 
jjany  with  nine  others,  we  rode  on  for  four  days  and  a  half.  Soon  after  our 
arrival  at  tiio  Pali-Ute  camp,  two  15annocks  came  in,  wlu'n  1  sent  twelve 
I'ali-l  tes  i(»  their  camp  to  ask  them  all  to  come  in  to  hold  council.  Tlieso 
messengers  soon  returned,  when  1  collected  all  the  ['ah-Ttes  and  talked  to 
them  all  niulit  re'>-ardin<i'  the  dan<>'ers  of  an  alliance  with  the  Bannocks  and 
of  their  coiitiuuiince  in  that  locality.  Xe.xt  morning  I  sent  my  brother  to 
the  chief,  Winnennu'ca,  with  a  report  of  [)roctedings. 

On  the  ioUowinn  day  tlu'ee  white  men  rode  into  cam]),  who  had  como 
up  to  aid  in  persuading  the  I'ah-Utes  to  move  away  from  the  border.  Next 
morning  1  consulted  with  them  respecting  future  operations,  after  which  they 
went  away  a  -^hort  distance  to  their  camp.  I  then  i'ollowed  them,  where  I 
shot  ami  killed  a  steer,  and  while  skinning  it  the  Bannocks  came  in,  when 
the  meat  was  distributed.  The  Bannocks  being  disposed  to  becouu'  violent 
at  any  moment,  the  white  men  bi-came  alarmed,  when  1  told  them  that 
rather  than  allow  them  to  be  scalped  1  would  be  scalped  myself  in  defend- 
ini:'  them,  tnr  which  action  1  would  be  considered  as  >>'reat  a  chief  as  Win- 
nenuicca  1)\-  in\   jenulc.      When  I  told  tlu.'    IJannocks  to  cease  threateiu 


UiT 


the  white  men  they  all   iuovimI   to   one  side  a  short  distance  to  hold  a,  war 
council,  and  at'ter  the  sun   went  down  tin-  white  men  and  I  mnunted  oiu' 


horses  and  lied  toward  the  south,  whence  w 


t!  came 


Sniuc  ol   the  above  signs  seem  to  reipiire  explanation.      Xiitshcs  wa.< 


lacing  the  west   during  the  whole  of  this  narration,  and  by  tl 


U!  ri; 


-lit  h 
to  th 


signiheil  tile  noitli:   tins  will  explain  the  signilicance  of  his  gesture 
right  ill  Nus.  11  and  17.  and  to  the  left  in  No.  7,'). 

No.  J  (repeated  in  Nos.  2-_',  21,  oo,  and  11  ),  designates  an  Indian  bru.sli 
lodge,  and  altluuigh  Natsju-s  has  not  occupied  one  for  some  years,  the  ges- 
ture illustrates  the  original  conception  in  the  round  form  of  the  foundation 


of  pcilcs,  branches,  and  brush,  the   interlaciiiti-  of  which  in  tl 


le  construction 


f! 


UKMAUKS  ON  TIIK  SIC.NS  i\  Till:  SHJItY. 


53 


of  tlic  wii-k'-i-up  has  siuviv.'d  in  }.-ostiircs  Nos.  o  mid  23  (tlio  hitter  ivfiMTiii<? 
to  iiioro  tliiin  one,  /.  <• ,  an  (•ucaiiiiiiiiciit) 

Tho  Hi-n  tor  Hainiock,  No.  '25  (also  .",.>  and  r.',»).  lias  its  origin  fn.m  tlio 
tnidlticn  amoiijr  the  I'ali-Uti'S  that  the  Uannocks  w.t  in  t..i'  habit  of  cnt- 
tlu}>-  tho  throats  of  tla-lr  victims.  This  sii-n  is  made  with  the  index  instead 
of  t^iu-  similar  <--osturo  with  the  Hat  hand,  which  amonj,^  several  tribes  denotes 
the  Sionx,  but  the  Pah-Ttes  examined  h;id  no  si)eciiic  sij-'n  for  that  body  of 
Indians,  not  having-  been  in  siUlicieiit  eontaet  with  them. 

"A  stoppin-i-  idacr."  referred  to  in  Nos.  C,  12,  02,  and  M,  represents 
the  settlement,  station,  or  eamp  of  white  men,  and  is  eoiltradistinnuished  by 
merely  dnttinj;'  toward  the  yrouiKl  instead  of  indicatin«,'  a  circle. 

It  will  also  be  seen  that  in  several  instances,  after  indieatin}-' the  nati(m- 
nlity,the  fnig-ers  previously  hs.mI  in  represc-nlinn-  the  nundjerwere  rei)eated 
witii.'mt  its  previously  aeeompanyin-  specific  jresture,  as  in  No.  Gl,  where  the 
three  fingers  of  the  iJft  hand  represented  the  men  (white), and  the  three  .nove- 
ments  t..ward  the  g-round  signified  th.-  camp  or  tents  of  the  three  (white)  men. 
This  also  occurs  in  the  gesture  (Nos.  5!l,  (iO,  and  71 )  emjdoyed  for  the 
Bannocks,  which,  having  been  once  specified,  is  u.sed  subscpu-ntly  without 
its  specific  preceding  sign  for  the  tribe  represented. 

The  rapi.l  com.ectiou  of  the  signs  Nos.  57  an.l  r>S,  an.l  of  Nos.  74  and 
75  in.Hcates  the  couiunction,  s<.  that  they  are  severally  jvadily  understoo<l 
as  "shot  and  killed,"  and  "the  white  men  a>ul  I."  The  same  remark  applies 
to  Nos.  15  and  IG,  "the  nine  and  I." 

In  the  examination  of  the  sign-language  it  is  importatit  to  f.>rm  a  clear 
disti.K.ti.m  between  signs  proper  and  synd.ols.  All  characters  in  Tndian 
pletnre-writi..g  have  been  loos<.K  styled  synd.ols,  and  as  there  ,s  no  ogn-al 
Ilisthiction  between  the  characters  in.pressed  with  enduring  torn,,  and  when 


mereh 


Iv  (Uitlined  in  the  andtieut  air, 


1    Indian  gestures,  motion.s,  and  atti- 


tud 


es  ni 


iu-ht  with  (Mpial  appropriateness 


be  called  symbolic.     While,  how- 


ever, a 


11  svnd)ols  come  un 


der  the  generic  head  of  signs,  very  few 


sitius  are 


ni  accuv 


ate  (dassificat'on  syn 


,d>ols.       S.  T.  COLEIIIDGV 


has  defined  a  symbol 


■hided  in  the  i(h'a  it  repi 
it  is  intended  thai  an  ordinary  sign  is  e 


to  be  a  sign  im 


■eseii 


ts.     This  may  bt'  i 


ntelli"ible  if 


jxtraneous  to  the  Cimce^.t,  ami,  r 


itl 


itlier 


54 


svMi!(H,s.  i;mim,i:m.s  and  skins. 


,!,;,,,  <Iin-ctlv  suo-f-vstcd  l)y  it,  is  invented  to  cxi.voss  it  l.y  sonic  iv|.ivs..ntii,- 
1m:-v,  wliile  i)  s\ ml.ol   ni.iv  lie  evolved   l)y  ;i    i)rocess  of  tlioii;.;lit 

\li;ilisti\e    or  jiriicticidly  lisetlll 
nd  more  jirlilici:'!   tii;ni  mere  ^i;;•ns, 


tiiiM  or  iniii 

I'l'Min    flut   i*ni 

distinction. 


It  itsidl':    lint    it    i  ■   no  \cry  ( 


Svmlmls  ;ire  less  olisions  ii 


reiiinPe  eiin\  enlion.  ai'e  )i 


•Mibni.timi  Ironi  In.- 


)i(it  tiiih- nli-trni'l,  liiil  niet;i|iliysic;il,  and  ol'teii  lU'ed 
I  cii'^toms.      (  )iir  s\niliolsot'  tlie  ark, 


or\-.  i'eli;.;ion.  am 


(IliNC,    ci|!\C 


nnlamihar  willi 


dd   lie  wliolU'  meanini^less  to   |)eo|)lo 
the   .Mosaic  or  some    similar   cosmolo;ry.  as  wonid   lie   tlin 


lii-ancli.  and    ramoow  woi 


cross  am 


iMilieai'eii 


lictmn'  powers  n\ 


1  ihe  crescent  to  those  ijiiioraiit  ( 
in  ihe  lower  idass  ot'  riiililrn/s  w  la 


t' histoi'x .     The  last-named  olijects 


n  nseil   in  desiiinatinu'  the  con- 
Christendom  and  Jslamisur      I'lmlilems  .lo  nut  m'cessarily 
re(|nire  an\-  analoLiv  lietwec  n   the  olijects    representing;-  and  tlio.se,  or  tlm 

Hire  accident.     After  a  scurrilous 
hecanie  the  eiiiMem  of  the  confederated  ihddes,  tlio 


(|ualitit's,  represented,  liiit  may  arise  Ironi  ] 


lest  tin 


ar s  wallet  oecani 


Oneiix.  of  th<'  Xi'therlands;  and  a  slim:,  in  the  early  minority  ol'  Louis  XI\', 
was  aiiopied  iVoiii  the  refrain  of  a  son;:'  hy  the  Kroiideiir  opponents  of 
.Mazarin.     The  several  tribal  .-i;:iis  for  the  Sioux,  .\raiialio,  Cheyeiiuo,  &c  , 

■Iv  as  the  star-spaii^i'k'd  lla;:'  i>  that  of  the  Tiiited 


are  th(-ir  emblems  iii'ecisi 


.*>tares.  Iiut  there  is  iiMtliiiiL;-  svniliolic  in  any  ol'  them.  So  the  si^^'us  tor  indi- 
vidual chiefs,  when  lint  merelv  translations  of  their  naiiU'S,  are  emlilematic. 
nf  dieir  I'amilv  tutems  (ir   persdiial    di>tiiictioiis.  and   are  no  more   symliols 


than   are  the  distinctive  shoulder-straps  ol   a 


riiiv  ollicers      'idie  cni.r  dii^ 


(itii 


aim  the  circle  hirineil  o 


w  f 


as  inveiilKiii  was  iiecessai 


V   a  snake   llitill^■  its  tail  are  svndiols,  liut  consensus 
V   for  their  estaldishmeiit,  and  our  Indians 


have  prinhlceil   \\n 


hiuu'  s<i  esoteric,  nothing-  wlii(di  ihev  inlemled  for  lierme- 
iieiitic  as  dl-.tliict  from  mnemonic  purposes.    Si;.;-ii-lan;;'iia;i-e  can  undoulitedly 


he  emiHii 


\((l  iM  e\pre>s  liiLililv   metaphysical   ideas,  indeed  is  so  emi 


iloved 


liv  ('(liicated  deal-mutes,  liiit  t<i  do  that  in  a  svstem  reipiires  a  development 
of  the  n.dde  of  expicssiiin  consecpieiit  upon  a  similar  develupmeiit  tif  the 
mental  idlocrasv  <if  the  j^esturers  far  lievoiid  anv  \el  louud  ainon;^'  historic, 
tribes  uorlli  <>(  Mexicd  .\  verv  few  of  their  si^^ns  mav  at  iirst  appear  to 
lie  sNiidiMlic.  \et   even   tlinse   oil   clnser  exaiiiii latioii   will  i)rol)a])lv   lie  r(d(!- 


ateij   ill  llie   cla- 


eiiililems.  as  was  the  case  ol    that  lor    •"fartisan    liiveii 


l)\    the  I  mice  o 


f  \v 


11, n. 


Ilv  that 


title  I 


le  meant,  as  indeed  was  tiu'  common 


1 1 


.\nMi;i;\  lAiinN  and  imciuction. 


',)0 


<'X|tn'ssiiiii  I.I' tlu'(':ui!i(li;ni  \oy;i;j'  nrs,  ;i  leader  of  iiii  occn«i(innl  or  Vdliinteer 
wjir  |iiirty,  iiiid  the  ,si^;ii  lie  icpoil--  ns  I'nilows:  "  Make  lirst  tlie  sij^u  of  tliu 
pipe,  alti-rwanls  open  tlh'  llninili  ;iuil  iii<le\-riii;4'ii' of  the  ri,:ilit  liaiid,  liack 
of  the  hand  outward,  and  mnvc  ii  I'lirwai'd  ami  iipwai'd  in  a  curve."  This 
is  explained  hy  the  author's  acrmnit  in  a  dilli-rent  ronneciion,  that  to  hei'oine 
i',.(M(H'ni/e(l  as  a  leader  of  suih  a  war  party  a-^  al)o\c'  mentioned,  the  first 
iU't  anions  the  ti'ilies  usiuLi  the  si^u  was  the  eonsecrafiou,  by  fastin<i'  >u('- 
«'eeded  hy  feastin;i',  of  a  luediiine  oipe  without  ornainent,  wlii(di  the  leader 
of  tile  expedition  afterward  l»ore  liclore  hiii  as  his  liadj^c  ol'  anthoi'itx',  and 
it  therefore  ualin'ally  iieeanie  an  euddenialie  si;jn.  'There  nia\'  lie  inter- 
est in  uiitini;-  tli;'t  the  "("aleiidar  nf  ilie  I  )akota  \ation"  (  Hulletin  l'.  S. 
(I.  and  (i.  Sur\e\.  \ol  iii,  No  j  ;,  oisi-s  a  liji'ure  (No.  4o,  A.  I  >.  l(St*J) 
showinji'  "(»nc  l''eatliei',"  a  .*>iou\  chief  who  raised  in  that  \car  a  lar;;'() 
wai'  part\  an'ainst  thi'  ('rows,  whiidi  fact  is  simpl\-  denoted  iiv  his  hold- 
inji'  out  demonstrativcK'  an  unoi-iiauK  nted  jm|h-.  The  point  urj^ed  is  that 
while  an\-  si;:;ii  or  endilem  can  he  conveitid  Iiy  convention  into  a  s\  inhol, 
or  he  explained  as  such  h>  |)erwrttd  iuLicnuily,  it  is  futile  to  seek  ior 
sNudiolism  in  the  stayo  <if  aboriiiinal  development,  and  to  interpret  the  con- 
ception of  parlicidar  si^nis  li\  that  fonn  of  psvcholo;^ic  exuberance  were  to 
fall  into  niooniuL;'  nivsticism.  This  was  shown  by  a  corres[)oudent  of  the 
])res<Mit  writer,  who  euthu-insticalU  landed  ilie  1  >akota  ( 'alendar  (i-dited  by 
the  lattei',  and  a  mere  ii^ni'alion  of  successive  occurrenco)  as  a  numerical 
expo.sition  ot'  the  i;reat  doctrine-  of  tiie  Sun  ndi;;iou  in  the  eipiatious  of 
time,  and  pro\ed  to  his  own  satist'action  that  oui'  Indians  preser\'ed  lier- 
nieneiiticall\-  tlie  lost  ti'eonietric  cultiis  of  pre-Cnshite  scientists,  lie*  nii^^ht 
as  well   have  deciphereil   it   as  the  talmlated  dynastios  of  tlie  [)re-.\ilandt(j 


King's. 


A  lesson  was  h-ai'ued  by  the  writer  as  to  the  abbre\iatiou  of  si^us,  and 
the  possibilitv  of  d!s"overiny  the  original  meaning:-  of  those  most  obscure, 
tViMii  the  attempts  of  a  <  'lieyenne  to  convey  the  idea  of  e/r/  iintii.  lie  held 
his  rij.dit  hand  forward,  bent  at  (dhow,  limbers  and  tluind)  closed  sidewiso. 
^'liis  not  con\c\in;:- an\- sense  he  found  a  loii^- stick,  bent  his  back,  and  sup- 

•p   li\-  the  stiidv   held,  as  was  befoi'e  only 
npil    ai^e    dependent    on    a    stall'.      Thi! 


oi'ted  his  frame   in   a   totterniL;'  sii 


inia^inei 


I.      There  al    on 


ce   was   uei 


M 


(KNTKNi  r.S  ANM  SYNTAX. 


l)riiicil)lc  nt'  iililucviatioii  or  iciliii 


lion  uiiiv  lit-  illiistnitcil  1».\  siipposiii^^  a 


person,  unilrr  circinns 
iittciition  toil  pi 


tini.vs  lorl.id.lin}.-  tlio  ns.'  of  tlio  voi.v.  scckin-'  t<.  ciill 
1  tiiilini;'  to  do  so  l)\  iiicrr  iinliciitioii. 


irtii'nliU'  liii'd  i>n  ii  iitc.  iint 


))cscripli\('  si^iis  iif"  rcsovlrd  to.  pnliiips  sn^;';i'('s 
liird,  its  niiinncr  ol'  clin-iiiL:' to  llio  \\\'\'j; 
hold  it  lictwccii 


tiny  thcltill  iiiid  \viii^rf*<»t"  tlit) 


ill)  its  feet,  its  size  1)V  sccnnn^'  to 


ijcriijiiis 


l)\'  the   j\( 


th,.  hands,  its  color  l>_v  pi.inliii-  to  ohj.Tls  ol'  the  sanic  Inic  ; 
tion  of  .shootin-'  into  a  tree,  pickin-  np  the  supi)o.s.'<l 


idlcn  j^anic,  ami  p 


ncknitf  k'iitncrs 


th. 


Tl 


icsc 


arc  continucil  nntd  nndcrs 


tooil, 


ami  It 


one  >\'j:u  or   L;i'onp  of  si;^iis  jn'oxc 


iratcd  oil   tlK 


next  oi'caMoii  o\ 


lioth  p 


to  he  siicc(s>lid   that  will  he  ro- 
il, and  when  hi'coniin;^; 


•  r-ons  (■n;:a;i'(' 


familiar  iictuti'ii  Ilici 


this  d 


UMI'L'C  oiih  .  w 


n  and  otht'i's  will  he  more  and  more  aUlnvviated.     To 
lien  liie  si"iis  of  the  Indians  have  from  ideographic  form 


hecome  deiiiolic.  are  the\  conveiitiona 


Land 


nolle  o 


f  them  are  arhitrarv,  hut 


in  them,  as  in  ,ill  his  act 


ions,  man  had  at  first  a  delinite  meanin;;  or  purpose, 


ton'etlier  With    im 


thod  in  their  at'ter  clian^i'.'s  i 


ir  nioditicatioiis. 


he  forma- 


tion am 


I  receptiim  of  siM■n^  npoii  a  generally  umlerstood  prliu-iple,  l»y  whicdi 
thev  ma\-  he  comprehended  wlun  seen  loi  the  first  time,  has  heeii  heforo 
t'  the  caiiM'S  of  the  report  of  a  common   code,  as  (»iit  (d   il 
ppropriate   to  express  a  parti.'iilar  idea,  an  oh- 


lioticed    as    one  o 


varieiN'  oi 


'estiM'i'S.  each    a 


•terser  inav  readil\-  have  met  the  same  one  in  several  localities. 


It   were  needle 


tl 


le  "cs 


tare 


to  siijiji'est  to  any  <| 
iieecli  no  or;:aiii/.ed  si'iileiici'  such  as  is  ill 


iialilieil  ohserver  that  tlien^  is  in 
te"!'!  ■(!  in  the   laii- 


{.•ua<i-( 


nassive  voice  o 


staiitive  or 


if  ci\ili/,ation.  and  that  he  must  not  look  for  arti(des  or  particles  or 
r  case  or  urammatic  jjeiider,  or  even   what  we  use  as  a  siih- 


\cili,  as  a  siiliject  or  a  predicate,  or  as  (pialitiers  or  intlexioiis. 
radicals,  without   i)einy  specilically  any  of  our  parts  of  spee(di, 
nia\-  Ite  all  of  them  in  turn,      lie  will  liiid   no   part  of  i-rammar  lieyoiid  the 


lie   sejU 


jilctorial  jii-oiipin;:'  wiiicli  may  he  cia.- 


(I  under  the  scholastic 


lead  ( 


if   SNU- 


tax.  but   that   exccp 


tioii   is  siillicientl\'  important   to  make  it   desirable  tiiat 

the  exact  order  of   their  fi'esticilla- 


jeciim-iis  of  nairativi'-  and  speeches  in 


tKtii  ,>iioiilil  he  reiiurti' 


def 


e  ami   exact   collet 


I.     'Idle  want  hefore  meiitioiieit.  of  a  sullicieiitly  com- 
tioii  of  tales  and   talks  in   the  sinii-laiiyuayc  of  the 


Imlian-, 


leave.-^ 


It    impos>liile    to    i\\\( 


•11 


now  iiiHin  their  s\ntax,  hiit  the  suh 


J  eel  lue 


I'uceiveil  mmdi  discussion  in  connection  with  tlii' or( 


ler  (d'  deaf-mute 


Wnwiis  AND  SKINH  NUT  r()NVi:i{TIIII,K 


57 


si^nis  lis  cuinitiircil  witli  oi'mI  --iificli,  sumc   inptcs  of  wlilcli,  ctnnlcnHcd  lV<»m 

lllf  s|Mrlllllfiiilis  lit'  \'  \l,,\l'i;  illlil  utlicrs,   ;irc  !is  InlldWs: 

111  iiilliiic  n»iisliiicl!(iii  tlicrc  MIT  til  lie  coiisidt'i'i'd  ImmIi  (lir  nrdcf  in  wlilili 
llic  si;;iis  >iicrri  (1  oiif  jimitln'r  Jiiitl  tlu'  it'liitivo  pusitiiijis  in  wliicli  tlic\  iiro 


iiiiitlc,  tlif    Litter  ri'iiiiiiiiiii;,^  luiiucr  in 


tlic  nu'iiini-y   tliiiii    tli<'   luninT,   iiiitl 


M|Hik{'ii  liiii;^iiii;;<!  iiiiiy  Sdiiictiim's  in  its  cjiily  inl'iiiicy  lime  rc|ini<lii('('(l  tlio 
idi'iis  (it' M  siy'ii-]»ictiiri' witliiiiit   I'liMiinciifiii^''  I'miii   llic  smiik!  iidiiit.     So  tlio 


onlcr,  iis  III  ( JiTc 


mil 


it;ii,  i->  \ci'v  Vfiriiihlc 


II  iiii.tions  jiiiioiii^'  wlioiii  tlio 
;il|iliiil>ft  u.is  inti'oiliiccd  willniiit  tlic  iiit(!'iiii'ili;i|-y  to  iiii\  ini|ircsMiv(;  d('<;r»'0 
of  pictnrt-writin^',  tlir  oidir  KiiiiL;'.  I,  liin^iiuiji'c  of  si^^iis,  almost  siiiKTHcdcd 
l>y.  ■_',  spoken  l;in^iiiij;e,  tind,  .'!,  ;il|ili;il)etii'  writiii;;',  men  would  write  in  tlie 
onler  in  wliicii  they  li;id  lieeii  ;ic(ii>toineil  to  spi'iik.  I»iit  if  at  a  lime  wlieii 
s|Mtk('ii  laii;iiia;;(^  was  still  riidimeiitiirv,  inrercotirse  lieinj^-  mainly  carried  on 
l»\'  si;j;iis,  liNnrati\e  writiu'^'  was  invented,  llie  order  ot'  tlie  fijiiires  will  Ito 
the  order  of  the  si^iiis,  and  the  same  order  will  pass  into  the  spoken  laii- 
jinaj^i!.  Hence  Lciiimpz  says  truly  that  "  the  writing:'  ot  the  ( 'I  inese  ini;>'lit 
seem  to  have  Keen  iincnted  l»y  a  deaf  iieisoii,"  Their  oral  laii;iiia;^e  has 
not  known  the  phases  which  have  ;^iven  to  the  liii|o-Kiiro|K'aii  toii;^ii('8 
their  formation  and  i^raiiimatical  parts.  In  tint  lattor,  si^fUH  wuro  comiiU'rcd 
h\   speech,  while  in  ihe  former,  speech  received  the  yoke. 

If  the  coll(»cation  <if  the  li;;iires  of  Indians  takiii;:'  the  place  of  our  sen- 
tences shall  estahlish  no  rule  of  construction,  it  will  at  least  show  the 
natural  order  of  ideas  in  the  al)orIi;inal  iiiiud  and  the  several  modes  of 
inversion  l»y  which  they  pass  from  the  known  to  the  unknown,  l)e;>iniiiiif,' 
with  the  ilominaiit  idea  or  that  supposed  to  lie  best  known.  So  far  as 
studied  li\  the  present  writer  the  Indian  si;.;n-utt('raiice,  as  well  as  tliiit 
iiatui'al  to  deaf-mutes,  appears  to  retain  t'.,'  characti-ristic,  of  pantomime  in 
lirsl  the  principiil  li^'iire,  and  in  addiu;^,'  tlu^  accessories  successively, 


I'lvin'! 


the  ideo^i'raphic  expressions  hein;^'  in  the  ideolo;^ical  order. 


As  of  seiiti-nces  so   ol    words,  strictly  known  as  siicli,  tliere  can  ite  no 


th 


accurate  translatiDU. 


.hs.  tl 


ie\'  do   IK 


<rrai 

iiid  events,  iimler  pliy 


So  far   from   the  siy'us  representiiifi'  words  as  lo;^o- 
it  in    their  presentation  of   the  ideas  of  actions,  olijects^ 


tonus,  even  siiL;'iiCst  words,  winch  must  lie  ski 


II- 


fullv  fitted  to  them  hv  the  ;^los,sirist  ami   lahoriou>ly  derived  from  them  liy 


58 


'LASSlFirATlON   AND  ANAIA.SIS. 


I'lu'   USL'  O 


IS  so  W'U 


|(.  ;i  (IciKU'tiUT  tnun  pniui 


f  words  i:.  tonuulation,  still  mow  in  tmi.inolo-v, 
tivo  con-litions  as  to  be  incoiiii)at:i)l»'  with 


tl 


ic  only  )> 


riinonlial  laii<>-na;xo  yc 


td 


ISCONCl't'l 


1.      No  dirtionai'V  oi   sij-'iis  wil 


cx 


haiistivf  I'ov  the  shiiple  ivasoi 


1  thai   till'  siii'us  arc  cxhaustk' 


ss.  nor  wi 


n  hv  C'xai 


t  ht'causG  thoro  ram 


lO 


t  l)c'  a  convspondi'ni'o  hetwccii  si.uii^ 


an( 


\vor( 


Is  taker   individually.      Words  and  si^nu 


l)(,tli  ehani^'e  their  ineauin 


from  the  eontc 
rcndei>  d  only 
tor  a  iHUuberot  words. 


xt.     A  sin-i'le  word  may  express  a  eonip 


ilex  idea,  to  he  fully 


\)\  a,  li'! 


•MUi)  of  si'^Mis,  ant 


rersa,  a  sin"'l( 


means   intendei! 


sii-'n  may  sutHeo 


1  to  the  present  pamiihlet  i.^  l)y  no 
II  of  headinu's  or 


titl 


es  o 


if  siiiiis  arran 


The  list  annexe. 
f.,r  exact  translali.m.  hut   as  a  su.-jgestiu 
ovd  alphahcticrdly  lor  mere  convenience 


It   w 


intercstmi:' 


to  iisccrtani 


wi 


th  >iL''n-lanu'u;i.ii'e  a.non;. 


th 


d 


u'  niendiers  ot   tlie  s 


proj 
tl 


ortion 


sess 


anv 


skill  in  it,  the  nveraj^'e  amoui 


he  varvinu'    extent  of  familiarity 

several  tribes,  how  lur<>'0  ii 

it  of  their  vocal)ulary, 


th 


le  deu'i'ct 


to  which  women   become  pro 


ilicient,  and  the  a<.>-e  at  whudi  clul- 


dren  conunence  its  pir.ctice 


The  statement  is  ma 


lie  bv  Titchkematski  that 


theKaiowa  and  ComaiK 
the  rh 


hr  women  know  lu 


'venne  women  an 


versed   in   it. 


A: 


•thiimof  the  siiiii-laii-jrua-ife,  while 
however,  he 


he  IS  a 


CI 


leveiino 


ma 


\-  not  have  a  hu'ii'e  ci 


releof  feminine  ac(j 


uamtaiices 


he\ond  his  own  tribe, 


aiiM 


his   ne 


ative    testimo 


uv  is   not  va 


luabh 


A  1 


lore 


•neral  assertion  is 


•et 


that  the  si"iis  u- 


derstood,  and  some  n 
whether  the  commeiic 


1  bv  males  and  females  are  dif.'erent,  thoao'h  mutually  un- 


liiior  points  of  observation   may 
•meiit  of  countin.n'  upon  the  iin 


the  ri-ht  or  the  lett  hand,  and  whether  Indians  take  paii 


be  hidlcated,  such  a? 

in-ei:i  is  upon  those  ot 

IS  to  look  toward 


the 


south   when   si 


uiTU'estinti,'  the  course  <> 


f  tl 


le  sun,  w 


hid 


1  W'(Ulld    Ul\e 


tl 


10 


mo 


tion  from  left  to  ri;:ht 


CLASSIFICATION   AN1>  ANALYSIS. 


An  imiinrtant  division  o 
icdl,  the  latter  beiii"'  sometiim 


f  the  (kaf-nuite  si^iis  is  i 


ito  iinlnrtd  and  in 


■Ihoil- 


s  ca 


Jhit  si^'us  may  be 


ar 


tificial — that  is,  na 


lied  arillicial  and  sti.ijniatized  as  parasitical, 
tur.d.  but  improve(l  and  enriched  by 


•n-r — and  even  arbitrary,  withoiu  bemii'  ^ 
rt  of  t..^  instruction  < 


trict!\-  what  is  termed  nu 


■thodicai, 


the  latter  hi'im:'  pa 


f  deaf-mutes,  Ibunded  upon  spoken 


lanunaii".' 


and  ail 


,pU 


ti 


lie  Wo 


rck  and  L;iauimatical   I'orms  ( 


.f  I 


lose 


an- 


I  t 


if 

I  i    I 
I   !     1 


HlNCiLK  SICNS. 


59 


vS 


^•iiMfres.  Tliis  (livisiuii  is  not  nppropriiite  to  tlic  sio-ns  of  liKlians,  wliicli  aro 
iill  natural  in  this  sense,  ai  d  in  their  heautx',  ;;rai'e,  and  inipressivcness.  In 
another  meaning'  of  "  natin'al,'"  Liiven  l»y  (h-af-mute  authorities,  it  has  litthj 
(listin<'ti()n  Irom  '-innate,"  and  still  aiKither.  '•cduveyin^'  tlu;  meaning;-  at  first 
.siglif,"  is  hardly  deiinite. 

The  si^iis  (if  (inr  Indians  may  he  divided,  in  atMioi'dance  with  the  mode 
III  their  consideration,  intn  innate  lu'enerally  emotional)  and  invented;  into 
(lexclojied  and  aliridu'ed  ;  into  radical  ai:d  derivati\e  :  and  into,  1.  Indica- 
tive, as  directly  as  |i(issilde  ot'  the  nliject  intended;  2.  Imitative,  rejiresent- 
in;;'  it  liy  cdnfiLurative  diawiiiL;-;  o.  (  ([icrativt-,  rcferrinji'  to  actions;  and 
4.  I'',x|iressi\e,  liein^i'  chielly  |'a<-ial.  As  they  are  rhetorically  as  well  as 
«lirectl\-  lii>iirative,  they  may  lie  (dassitied  under  tlu;  tienes  of  metaphor, 
s\  iiecd(i(die,  meton\  in\ ,  and  catachresis,  with  as  miudi  or  as  little  advantage 
as  lias  lieen  ;:ained  \)y  \\n;  lahelin^'  in  text  hooks  of  our  ii^'ures  of  articulate; 
speech. 

'^riie  most  useful  di\ision,  however,  for  the  analysis  and  reimrt  with 
which  collectors  arc;  concerneil  is  int'i  siitr/lf  and  coinjiDinHl,  each  incdudiny 
a  inindier  ol  suhdrdinate  tirdnp-.  examples  of  which  will  he  useful.  Some 
of  tliM^e  here  suhmitted  are  taken  tVom  tin;  selected  list  helore  introduced 
to  discriminate  hetween  the  alleged  universality  of  the  si^iiis  themselves  and 
ol'  their  use  as  an  art,  and  the  examples  of  deaf-mute  sii^iis  ha\e  het'ii 
extracted  from  thosi;  L;iven  for  the  same  iiurpose  by  Mjii'.  I >.  1>K  lI.vr.i.'M';  in 
his  adinirahle  aiialvsis  of  those  si^ns,  which  also  has  been  used  so  far  as  ap- 
jjlicahle.  Those  will  he  eipially  illustrati\-e.  hoth  the  Indian  and  deaf-nnite 
si^iis  heiiii;'  liut  dialects  ol'  a  common  stock,  and  wlule  all  the  examples  mi^lit 
l)e  taken  I'ldin  the  colL-i-tion  of  Indian  si^iis  already  made,  the  main  ()l>joct 
of  the  present  work  is  to  vt'rifv  and  correct  that  ecdlection  rather  than  to 
l)ul)lish  more  of  it  than  jweessary,  with  possible  perpetuation  of  error  in 
some  details. 

*j«/;i,i-;  ,s|(iNs 

Slno'le  siinis  have  been  o^fteri  stvl^'d  '•simple,"  which  term  isobjection- 
.able  l)ecause  liable  to  lie  (•n\\{<i^fic\i-(\  with  the  idea  of  ''plaii,"  in  which 
sen.se   iiearl\   all    Indian   si^iis,  beinx  vwiiaial.  are   simple      Tlu-y   are   such 


60 


SINGLE  SIGNS. 


us  .sli<»w  only  one  ])liJise  or  quality  of  the  object  signifietl.     'Die  fV>lIowiii<^ 
ari'  tlic  principal  t'onns  Avliich  they  take : 

1.  ImlkatioH  or  representation  of  the  oh/ect  to  he  described.  This  is  the 
Indicative  division  before  mentioned.  All  the  si^^ns  for  "J,  myself"  f^iven 
above,  are  examples,  and  another  is  the  wetting-  of  the  tip  of  the  iin^^er  by 
deaf-mutes  to  indicate  humidity,  the  species  bein^-  in  the  latter  case  used  for 
the  jienus. 

2.  Drawhtu  the  outlines  of  the  object,  or  more  jjenerally  a  part  of  the 
outlines.  The  Imitative  or  configurative  division  of  signs  reappears  in  this 
class  and  the  one  following.  Example  :  The  above  sign  for  ''  dog,"  which 
conforms  to  the  outline  of  its  head  aiul  back. 

3.  Imitation  of  the  condition  or  (ftlic  aetion. 

(«.)  Imitation  of  the  condition  or  state  of  being.  Under  this  form 
come  nearly  all  tlie  designations  of  size  and  measun?.  See  some  under 
t'  Quantit}',"  above. 

{l>.)  Imitation  of  the  action,  or  of  activity  in  coomection  with  the  object 
Jlost  of  the  ideas  which  we  expres.s  by  verbs  come  in  this  category,  but  in 
sign-language  they  are  as  properly  substantives  or  adjectives.  They  niay 
be  Imitative  when  the  action,  as  of  "  eating,"  is  sinuulated  in  pantomime  ;  or 
Operative,  as  when  "  walking"  is  actually  perfornm-d  l)y  taking  steps  ;  or 
Expressive,  as  when  "grief,"  "weeping,"  appears  in  facial  play. 

4.  The  contact  had  icith  the  object,  or  the  mwrmcr  of  mimj  it.  For  "break" 
an  imaginary  stick  may  be  snapped  and  the  two  jjarts  looked  at  as  if  se})- 
arated.  See  above  signs  for  "destroyed."  {Dodye.)  A  knife  and  most  other 
utensils  are  expressed  by  their  use. 

5.  One  part  tahen  for  the  tvhole,  or  parfii^tdar  sif/ns  made  to  represent  all 
the  sifjHs  of  an  object. 

This  class  has  reference  to  synecdoche.  The  Cheyenne  sign  for  "  old 
age  "  given  above  is  an  example. 

G.  Ilow  an  object  is  produced  or  prcjiand. 

Here  is  metonymy  representing  the  cause  for  the  etfect.  An  examphi 
may  )je  found  among  us  when  a  still  wine  is  indicated  by  the  action  of 
drawing  a  cork  fmni  a  bottle,  elVcrvescent  clianii)agne  Ijy  cutting  the  wires, 
ami  coll'ee  by  the  imaginary  grinding  of  the  berry. 


COMI'OUXn  SKiXS. 


61 


7.    Tl.  ,lacr  .Jure  th.  ,.!„.,  Is  in  J,  frn.nl,  oitl.or  according  to  its  natnro 
or  jis  a  oenoral  rnlo. 

Hero   is  M.ain  ,l,o  application   of  nictonyn.y.      Exan.ple :   "White" 
expre.se,l  1,  tonci.in,  the  toe.h ;   "  black,"  the  hair  (.hi^-h  nearly  ahva;. 
m.  that  CO  ...  .n,on.  Indian.) ;   "  red,"  the  lips      Articles  of  cloihin.  are 
similarly  indicated.  ° 

H.   The  effect,  result,  wjhmiee,  o,„l  ,noyal  mpression  of  the  ohjeet 
In  tins  ,.lass  are  specially  c-o.nprised  the  substantives,  adjectives,  and 
^erb.  whu-h  .xpivss  the  .lispositiuns  and  impressions  of  the  soul 

h.  Kxpressne  j-estnre  or  sig...  dominates  here,  as  niioht  be  supposed. 
It  IS  o.on,.rally  the  eHx^ct  tor  the  cause,  by  metonymy,  which  is  expiLed 
Amon,-  the  si^ns  for  '-.nod"  and  "bad,"  above  ,nven,  are  several  examples: 

COMPOUND    SICtNS. 

■  Compound  si.ps  are  thos.  which  portray  several  sides,  features,  or 
qualities  o  the  obj.^ot  designed.  They  are  generally  more  developed  than 
those  winch  aiv  called  .>ino-K,  although  they  also  can  l,e,  and  in  fact  often 
are,  abridged  in  practice. 

The  various  ...tcgorics  of  compound  signs  may  be  reduced  to  certain 
heads,  forming  the  following  classes : 

1.  Objects  that  are  represented  by  a  ffenericol  or  rmJieal  indication,  ivith 
me  or  more  speeiji,  n»ni,s.  Example  :  The  dc^af-.nnte  sign  for  "  rich,"  whirh 
is  tl...  .eneric  sign  for  "man"  and  the  spcM-itic  sign  of  nativity  in  counting 
out  money.     I 'no.     ^ns  chist*  are  arranged 

(a.)  The  attributes,  either  adjective  or  participle,  employed  to  indicate 
stare  ..i-  parenta-e.  whether  th,^  g^-nerical  sign  is  expressed  or  understood. 
The  signs  for  -  otlspriiio."  and  "woman."  giveit  above,  .■Muibined,  mean 
"  dauirhter." 

f/O  The  designation  of  mio,4  birds  and  nniny  animals.  Example:  The 
deaf-mutes  lor  ••g..os(."  ima-ke  tAie  g«Hieric  sign  for  "bird,"  viz,  an  iiraJitation 
of  flying,  and  add  tii.it  of  ;i  warf^lliet;:'  walk. 

(r.)  Th.' d,.NigiiatH*»i  4il  tti*w..jv,;uid  plants.  Kxample:  The  deaf-mutes 
gesture  "  r,...."  by  the  sign  ..f  -flower,"  growing  trom  the  fingers,  and  the 
action  of  sMielliny,  then  the  sign  tor  "red" 


f 


62 


COMl'OlTNl)  SKiNS. 


2.  ScirraJ  parts  or  specific  marls.  "  Hail  "  is  sliown  by  tlie  si^n  foi* 
"  wliitc,"  tlicii  its  tnllinii'  nipidlv  iVoin  above  and  strikint;'  lieail,  arms,  &('., 
or  1)^  si^iis  for  "  rain  "'  and  "  hard." 

.'!.  <hif/iii  or  sii/ircc,  m/d  /rvr  of  flic  object  (tor  tbu  objcM-t  itself,  by 
iiietonyinv)  A  ])0m  would  onee  have  becni  understood  by  the  siyn  for 
"goose,""  l)efore  mentioned,  followeil  hv  tlio  action  of  writinij. 

4.  J\(l'ccts J'nr  causes  (also  by  nu'tonymy).  For  "wind"  blow  with  the 
mouth  and  Uiake  with  the  hiuids  the  motion  of  the  wind  in  a  determined 
direction.  • 

5.  Form  ami  iisc. 

The  family  of  signs  composing  this  category  is  vorv  numerous.  Tho 
form  is  generally  traced  with  the  foretinger  of  the  right  hand  in  s[)ace,  or 
by  the  deaf-nuites  sometimes  upon  a  surface  represented  by  the  left  hand 
o[)en ;  but  the  latter  device,  /.  c,  of  using  the  left  hand  as  a  su])posed  draft- 
ing surface,  has  not  l»een  reported  of  the  In(lian>.  The  i(se,  or  employment, 
i.s  expressed  by  the  position  of  the  hands  or  armis,  or  l>v  a  pantomimic 
movement  of  the  whole  liody.  A  good  exaMi(^4e  is  "  lios[)itiil,"  composed  of 
"house."  "sick,"  and  "manw"" 

(!.  Oittliiii-  (f  till'  olijccf  aud  the  ptotc  wkt"re  '«t  is  foHnd.  Kxampli' :  The 
horns  drawn  from  the  head  in  one  o*'  tin?  signs  given  above  for  "  deer." 
i^THchkematsld.) 

7.  Slia/ir,  ami  one  or  more  specif  c  marlxs.  ( )ther  sigrw  given  for  "deer" 
may  be  instamed. 

S.  Wiifi  nf  Hsiiii/  aiifl  specif  c  marks  of  fiUf  olijcct.  '^CIimITv  "  would  be 
distinguisiii'd  fnnji  "  pen,"  liefore  given,  hy  the  sign  of  "  white  ""  followed 
by  the  action  of  wrlTing. 

\}.  Sliajir,  mixir  of  Itsiiifi,  and  specif'  marls.  "Paper"  would  be 
sli(»wn  by  tracing  its  length  sMwd  breadth,  if  necessary  by  tlie  motion  of 
folding.  siu'c(jeded  by  tlwa,!  <4'  writing.  *nd,  to  make  it  still  UKa'e  distinct, 
by  "white" 

ID.  £.iid  for  ichirli  on  iJijcct  is  ascd,  or  its  mal,-i\  and  flic  place  icliere  it  ;." 
Joaint.  Kxample:  "Swt>rd,'"  by  drawing  from  a  sii[iposed  sheath  and  strik- 
ing; and  "milk,"  by  sig-iis  for  -'white,""  "milking,""  and  "drinking." 

1  1.   Pliirr  ami  sjicrilic  mark,      'i'lie  (lc;if-'iinte  slmws  "'spider"'  l)vo|tening 


Tin:  i'i;i\(  iiMj';  of  oim-osition. 


63 


all  tho  fin-crs  ..fl.nth  l,:n..ls.  ,,oint;,,i,.  with  tl.c  Ul  hand  to  u  wall,  then  to 
a  corner  in  the  wall  shnwn  l,y  the  uuh'x  of  fh.,  rio'ht. 

12.  Plan',  nia,H,n-  <.f  nsimi.  ny  mnl.  nf  amuniniinit.  The  pantomime  of 
p.ittin-  on  shors  ur  stn,kino.,s  In  u'hltcs  „r  uiorcasiMs  l.y  Indians  indicates 
those  articles. 

m.  Nvfiafh'ii  nf  Ihr  irnrsr  of  what  it  is  desired  to  dcscrU>e.  Examples: 
'•F.>nl— n..,"'niv,.n  al.ox..,  wonld  be  '-wise."  "fJood— no,"  would  be  "bad." 
^n.is  mode  of  expression  is  very  iVe.pient,  and  has  led  observers  to  report 
the  absence  of  positive  >i.-,.s  for  the  ideas  negatived,  with  sometimes  as  lit- 
tle propriety  as  if  when  an  ordinary  speaker  chose  to  nse  the  ne-ative  form 
"not  --ood,"  it  shoidd  be  iidernMl  that  he  w,is  in^norant  of  the  word  "  bad." 

11.  Attr,ni<di<',>  <,r  diiiiiiadl'n/  of  ait  ohjrrf  strm/f/rr  or  t/reatcr  than  that 

which  it  />'/'v//VY(' A) /vyyrr.vr//^  and  the  converse.    /V^/^/ynvonld  be"wet little"; 

cool,  "cold— little":  hot,  "warn--nnu'h."  In  this  comiection  it  may  be 
noted  that  the  de-ree  of  motion  sometimes  indicates  a  different  shade  of 
meaning,  of  which  the  graduation  of  the  signs  for  "Ijad"  and  "contem])t" 
{Motthnr.s)  is  an  instance,  but  is  more  fre(piently  used  for  emphasis,  as  is 
the  raising  of  tlie  voire  in  speech  or  italicizing  and  capitalizing  in  ])rint. 
The  meaning  of  tlie  same  motion  is  often  modilied.  individualized,  or  accim- 
tuated  by  associated  facial  changes  and  postures  of  the  bodv  not  essential 
to  the  sign,  which  emotional  changes  and  postures  are  at  once  the  most 
dilHcnlt  to  desciibe  and  the  most  interesting  when  intelligently  reported, 
not  only  Ix'cause  they  infuse  life  into  the  skeleton  sign,  Ijut  because  they 
may  iielong  to  tiie  class  of  innate  expressions.  Facial  \-ariations  an*  not 
coufuied  to   use   in   distinguishing  synonyms,  Imt  amazing  successes  have 

Ix't'i'  r >rded  in   which   long  narratives  have  been  couununicated  between 

<leal-mutes   whiilly  l)y  play  nf  the  teaturi's,  the  hands  ami  arms   lieiu"'  tied 
for  the  experinu'iif. 

There  remains  to  l)e  nu'iuiout'd  as  worthy  of  atti'Utiou  the  i)rinciple  of 
opjiositidi/.  as  Iietweeu  the  right  and  left  hands,  and  between  the  thund)  and 
foretinger  and  the  little  tiiu^'er,  which  appears  among  Indians  in  some 
(f.xpressions  for  •■abo\c."  "below,"  "forward,"  "back,"  but  is  not  so  com- 
mon as  anidUg  the  niethndical.  distinguished  from  the  natural,  signs  of  deaf- 
nmtes.     This  principle  is  illusH'ateil  b\-  the  following  remarks  of  ( 'ol.  Doogk 


w 


(U 


DESOKIPTION  AND  ILU'STUATIOX. 


Avliich  also  bear  upon  tlie  subdivision  last  above  niontioned:  "Above"  18 
indicated  by  holdinji'  tlie  left  band  horizontal,  and  in  front  of  the  body, 
finy-ers  open,  but  joiiu'd  tou'ether,  jjabn  upward.  Tlie  ri^lit  band  is  then 
jjlaeed  horizontal,  tinkers  o})en  but  joined,  |»alni  downward,  an  incli  or  uiorci 
above  the  left,  and  raised  and  lowered  a  few  inehes  several  times,  the  left 
hand  beinji^  perfectly  still.  If  the  thinj;'  indicated  as  "above"  is  oidv  a  little 
above,  this  concludes  the  siyn,  but  if  it  be  considcmhln  above,  the  ri-rht 
hand  is  raised  higher  and  hij,>'her  as  the  hei<>ht  to  be  expressed  is  <jfreater, 
until,  if  ciiorntDUslif  above,  the  Indian  will  raise  his  rig-ht  hand  as  \n<r]\  as 
possil)le,  and,  fixin-.;-  his  eyes  on  the  zenith,  emit  a  duplicate  grunt,  the  more 
prolonged  as  he  desires  to  express  the  greater  height.  All  this  time  the  left 
hand  is  held  perfectly  motionless.  "  Below"  is  exactly  the  same,  except 
that  all  movement  is  made  bv  the  left  or  lower  hand,  the  riyht  beinjr  held 
motionless,  palm  downward,  and  the  eyes  looking  down. 

The  code  of  the  Cistercian  monks  was  based  in  lai-ge  part  on  a  system 
of  opposition  which  would  more  likely  be  wrought  out  by  an  intentional 
process  of  invention  than  by  spontaneous  figuration,  and  is  rather  of  mne- 
monic than  suggestive  value  Thev  made  two  iinn-ors  at  the  ri-'ht  side  of 
the  nose  stand  for  "friend,"  and  the  same  at  the  left  side  for  "enemy,"  by 
some  fanciful  connection  with  right  and  wrong,  and  placed  the  little  linger 
on  the  tip  of  the  nose  for  "fool"  merely  because  it  had  been  decided  to  i)ut 
the  foreiinger  there  for  "wise  man." 

DETAILS    OF    DK-CKII'TION    AND    ILLrSTRATlON. 

The  signs  of  the  Indians  appear  to  consist  of  motions  rather  than  jiosi- 
tions — a  fact  enliancing  the  difficulty  both  of  their  description  and  illustra- 
tion— and  tlui  motions  are  generally  large  and  free,  seldom  minute.  It 
seems  also  to  be  the  general  rule  among  Indians  as  among  deaf-mutes  that 
the  point  of  the  linger  is  used  to  trace  outlines  and  the  palm  of  the  hand 
to  describe  surfaces.  Frf»m  an  examination  of  the  identical  signs  made  for 
the  same  object  by  Indians  of  tlie  same  tribe  and  band  to  each  otlier,  they 
appear  to  make  most  gestures  with  little  rei-'ard  to  the  i)osition  of  the  lina'ers 
and  to  vary  in  such  arrangement  from  individual  taste.  Some  of  the  elab- 
orate descriptions,  giving  with  great  detail  tluf  attitude  of  the  fingers  of  any 


IIKMAKKS  ON  LIST  OI"  SKiNS  DKSII.'HD. 


()5 


piirticular  ffostiiror  niul   tlio  iiiclics  traci'd  l)y  liin  motions,  iiro  of  as  littlo 
necessity  us  would  he  a  careful  reproduction  of  llie  llourislies  of  tailed  let- 
ters and   the    tliicivucss  of  down-strokes  in  individual    eliirograpliy  when 
(luotinj'-  a  written  word.     The  fin<j;'ers  nuist  he  in  some  position,  but  that  is 
frecpientl}-  accidental,  not  contrihutiii}^-  to  the  general  and  essential  elVect, 
and  there  is  a  custom  or  "fashion"  in  wiiieh  not  oid\-  ditVerent  tribes,  but 
diilerent  jjcrsons  in  the  same    tribe    gesture  the  same  sij^n  with  different 
dej'Tees  of  beautv,  for   there   i>  calliuraphv  in  siyn-lanfjuaue,  thouyh  no 
reco<>'nized  ortlKif^-raphy.     It  is  nevertheless  better  to  describe  and  illustrate 
with  unnecessary  minuteness  than  to  fail  in  reporting  a  real  dilferentiation. 
There   are,   also,    in  I'act,  manv  signs  formed    l)v  mere    positions  of  the 
lingers,  some  of  which  are  abbreviations,  but  in  others  the  arrangement 
of  the  fuigers  in  itself  forms  a  picture.     An  instance  of  the  latter  is  one 
of  the  signs  given  for  the  "bear,"  vi/,,  midille  and  thii'd  linger  of  right  hand 
clas])ed  down  by  the  tlnuub,  lore  and  little  linger  extended  crooked  down- 
ward. {Tifrlil'cim'tts];}.)    TJiis  reproduction  ol'the  animal's  peculiar  claws,  with 
the  hand  in   anv  position    relatl\e    to   the    liody.  would   sullice  without  the 
])antomime  of  scratching  in  the  air,  which  is  udded  oidy  if  it  should  not  be 
at  once  com])rehended.      In  order  to  ])rovi(le  for  such  cas(\s  of  minute  rej)- 
rcseutation  a  sheet  of  "Tyi'i.s  ok  Uv-Vi)  Positions"   has  been  prepared, 
and  if  none  of  them  exactiv  coi-respond  to  a   sign  observed,  the  one  most 
nearly  corresponding  can  be  readilx'  altered  by  a  few  strokes  of  jien  or 
pencil.     The  sheet  of  "  Oitltmcs  ok  .Vi;m  Positions,"  giving  front  and  side 
fi'i-nres  with  arms  pendent,  is  also  presenteil  as  a,  labor-saving  device.     The 
directions  upon   thes(>   sheets   as    ilhistrated   by   the  sheet   of  "ExAMl'l.Ks," 
which  concludes  this  pamphlet,  are,  it  is  hoped,  sulliciently  ample  t(»  show 
their  proposed  \\^^',  and  copies  of  them,  to  any  recpiisite  nund)er,  will  cheer- 
fulKbe  mailed,  together  with  ollicial  stamps  for  return  postage  on  contribu- 
tions, by  a])plication  to  the  address  given  below. 

LIST  OF  SKINS  DHSIULD. 


'{'he  following  is  a  condensed  list,  pre])ared  for  the  use  of  observers,  of 
the  headings  under  whicli  the  gesture-signs  of  thi'  North  American  Indians 
liavc  been  collated  for  comparison  with  each  o*.her  and  with  tho.se  of  deaf- 
."»  s  L 


t 


66 


LIST  OK  SICNR  DHSIIMCD. 


mutes  and  of  foreign  tribes  of  men,  and  not  intended  to  bo  translated  into  a 
mere  voeabulary,  the  nature  of  the  eh^mentary  ijrinciples  governing;-  the 
eombinations  in  th,'  two  nio(k>s  of  expression  being  diverse.  ^lany  syno- 
nyms have  been  omitted  whieh  will  readily  fall  ''i^o  plaeo  when  a  sign  f  )r 
them  may  lie  noticed,  and  it  is  probable  that  many  of  thoui.  iV'-ending  upon 
the  context  and  upon  facial  exjiression  will  bo  separately  distinguished  only 
with  great  difliculty.  l-iVen  when  the  specific  practice  of  the  sign-language 
has  been  discontinued,  the  gesture  formerly  used  for  a  sign  as  substitute 
for  words  may  survive  as  a  customary  accompaniment  to  oratory  or  impas- 
sioned conversation,  therefore  should  bo  noted.  The  asterisk  [)relixed  to 
some  of  the  words  indicates  those  for  which  the  signs  or  gestiu'cs  made  are 
specially  desired — in  some  cases  for  their  supnosed  intrinsic;  value,  and  in 
others  on  account  of  the  incompleteness  of  their  description  as  yet  obtained, 
but  it  is  not  intended  that  signs  corresponding  Avith  the  woi'ds  without  an 
asterisk  will  not  be  welcomed.  Observers  should  onl}-  i-egard  this  list  as 
suggestive,  and  it  is  hoped,  will  add  all  signs  that  may  be  considered  by 
them  to  1)e  of  interest.  Those  for  many  animals  and  utensils,  weapons, 
articles  of  clothing,  and  similar  connnon  objects,  have  been  omitted  from 
the  list  l)ecause  the  number  of  them  of  a  merely  configurati\  e  or  pan- 
tomimic character  in  the  present  collection  Avas  sufHcient  in  comparison 
with  their  value,  but  when  any  distinct  conception  for  them  in  signs  is 
remarked  it  should  be  contributed. 

Printed  forms  and  outlines  similar  to  those  shown  at  the  end  of  this 
pamphlet,  prepared  to  diminish  the  labor  of  description  and  illustration, 
will  be  furnished  on  request  mailed  to 

CoL.  Gakkiciv  Malleuv,  it.  S.  A., 
Bureau  of  Efhnolngij,  Smithsonian  Institution, 

,     P.  0.  Box  OS,-),  Washington,  D.  (!. 


♦Above. 

Add,  To;  more. 

Admiration. 

AiiKvr. 

Arrow. 


Arrow,  To  hit  with  an. 

Autumn,  I'ali. 

IJattlc. 

IJcar. 

I5t>a\('r. 


♦r.cforc. 

*  lU'^^inning ;     commence- 

nu'ut. 

*  Ueliind. 
♦IW'iow;  under. 


MST  OF  SKINS  DKSIIJKlJ. 


iiimu,  (iMilliild.) 

lilack. 

liliic. 

I'Oilt,  fillKIl'. 
lioW,   \t('i||lol|. 

iJiavc. 

Jhc'iik,  hioKcii. 

IJiinj.-'  to  iiK';  or  to  us. 

liroail. 

JJiotlicr. 
Cjipliiic,  To. 
Cliicr. 

,  Wiir. 

Cliild  ;  Itiiliy,  iiilinit. 

.  (>ll'sj)riiiii-. 

Clciii'. 


67 


Kiist. 

HikI.  «loiia 
Hiioii^j'li. 
M<iiiiil. 

IV\I'||,|||M|.. 

l''iiil,  To. 

Far. 

'•"ill,  of  a  person. 

Fat,  of  moat. 

J'"t'ai'. 


''iyht. 

J''ii<',  tiaiiii'. 
Flat. 
I'loiir. 

F'l.v.  'I"... 
<'l"llHiiJi:    i.-.ir..Io-rol„.   or     F.H.l.  looli.sh 

'*'^"-  J'oivst. 

,  Woolen  Idaiikel. 

Cloud. 


(•nil  sJiot. 

Hair. 

Half! 

•Halt;  a  .stop|)iiio.,,|.„.e. 

Ilaid. 

♦Male. 

iJe;  allot Iier  person;  tlioy. 

Hear,  Jieard. 

Heavy. 

*llelp,  To;  foaNsist. 
■ ,  a  eoward;  eowaidiee.     *  Here 

i;.male.  applied  to.niinals.      Hide;  "to  eoneeal ;  secret. 
"-'"•  lli/^li;  asaliill. 


*  l'"ore\er.  always. 

,,  ,  ,     .    .  Forj.ct;  f'orf;-otteii, 

;•'•'=  '"■-'•"'''•  iMMindjdiseoveivd. 

(.onie;  aiTiw;  eoiiiiii-  FnVn.l. 

come  l.aek.  k,,,^!. 

-—  '■"""■  '"•''^■-  l"'dl.  as  a  box  or  sa.-k 

(  oiiipaiiioii. 

*<'«.iiiparisoii:  more,  most.     (!i,p;  eation 
*<'<'i'tempi.  *(;ener.Mis. 

('oiileiit,  salisfaefioii.  (ijii. 

<iive.  to  me  or  to  ns. 

<ilad ;  joy. 

<i":  <^i)  away. 

Cod. 

<t(iod. 

*<i"iie;  departed. 

* '1  liist,  spent. 

<!iaiidmotlier. 

(irass. 

*(!ray. 

(i  lease. 

(ireat. 


ilill. 

*  Honest. 

*  Horroi'. 

*Hiiml)|('.  Immilify. 
Hiiiitiii;^-.  tor  pime. 
Hiisliaiid. 

1;  peisoiiiil  pronoun, 
lee. 

*linpriideut,  rusb. 
*lii;  within. 
Iiideeisioii,  doubt. 
,  '<ill,  killiiiM', 

I'litiire,  to  come  (in  time).     Kind. 

Know,  To. 


*rross;  sulky. 
*  nan^cr. 
l)aiij,difer. 
Day. 

today. 

to  ii'orrow. 

yesterday. 

Hfad;  death. 


I  kiKtw. 

I  <1<>  not  know. 


Doer. 

*])eliaiiee. 

**  Destroyed,  ruined. 

*])itleient,  e,onfraste<; 

Discontent,  dissatisfaeti(,'i.     Creeii. 

*'>i'^f;'i«l.  Miriet;  s(nTow. 

J>'>«-  *<;row.  To. 

Drink;  drinkiiij;-.  (inn. 

JOarth, -round.  ,  To  lilt  with  a 


I-aiice;  spear. 

J-ar/jc,  yivat  in  extent. 

in  i|iiantity. 

•Leaves,  of  a  tree. 

lae.  falsehood. 

liie,  (hiwii. 

Iii«iit,  dnylitjiit. 

ill  weight. 

I'i.uhtniiif''. 

Fisten,  To. 

Little;  small  in  quantity. 

,  ill  size. 

Lodji'e:  tejiee;  wijjwain. 

Filtering  a. 

Long,  in  extent  of  surface. 

ill  lapse  of  time. 

Look!     See! 


w 


<5H 


LIST  OK  SKiNS  I)|;SI|{KI). 


Ii(M»k,  To. 

Love.  iilVfctiori. 

Miilr,  j|)|ilii'il  tu  iiiiiiiial.s. 

Mitii. 

Miiiiy. 

Jliiicliiii;;',  Inivclinjr. 

*  McdiciiiC'intiii,  Sliaiiiiiii. 
Mi'iliciiit'  ill  liiili:iii  .sense. 
Mine;  iiiy  inoiierty. 

.Mdllll,    IIIMIltll. 

IMiiriiiii^'. 

."Mittlicr, 

iMotintain. 

Miifli. 

Near. 

Xr;.;i(). 

Ni-lit. 

No,  ii('};ati\('. 

Ndiic;  I  liavi'  none. 

Notliiii;;', 

Now. 

Niiiiiliei:  (|iiantity. 

()l>laiii. 

Old. 

<  >lili(isile. 

Out;  ((111 ward  ;  williout  (in 

l)()sition). 
Taint. 
Parent. 

*  Past;  over  (in  time). 
Patieiiee. 

Peace. 
Pistol. 
I'iror.  lean. 

* ,  indigent. 

I'rairie. 
i'rayei'. 
J'retty;  handsome. 

*  I 'ride. 
Prisoner. 

,  To  take. 

Proj)erty;  jMissession;  liave; 

lieliiiiu'. 

*  J'rudeiit,  cautious. 
(Question;  inquiry;  what? 
l!ain. 

lied. 


Ifepeat,  often. 

I'etreat  ;    return    through 

tear. 
Hidge. 
IJiver. 

K'oeky.  as  a  hill. 
I'liii;  rllnllill^^ 
Same,  similar. 
Scalp. 

Search,  to  seek  for. 
See,  To;  seeing;. 
Seen. 

*  Shame;  ashamed. 

*  Short,  in  extent. 
*Sho!'t,  in  time, 
Sick,  ill. 

Sinj;. 
Sister. 
Sit  down. 

*  Slave,  serxant. 
Sleep. 

Slow. 

Small. 

Snow. 

Soft. 

Son. 

Sour. 

Speak,  To. 

•Spriiifi'  (season). 

Steamboat. 

*Stin-y. 

Stone. 

Storm. 

Stroll",',  streiiffth. 

*Sulimission. 

•Summer. 

Sun. 

Sniuiso. 

Sunset. 

Surprise. 

Surrender. 

Surround. 

Sweet. 

Swift. 

Talk,  conversation. 

*Time. 

Taste. 


Tiiiiik. 

'I'huiider. 

Time  of  day;  hoiu'. 

• a  Umii  time. 

• a  short  time. 

Tired,  weary. 

Told  me,  A  person. 

Tomahawk;  a\. 

Trade,  liarler,  l»iiy. 

Travel,  To. 

•Tree. 

True,  It  is. 

Truth. 

•Try,  To;  to  attemitt. 

Understand. 

Understand,  Do  not. 

*  Vain,  vanity. 

*  \'illa;;i',  ln<lian. 

* ,  AVhite  man's 

War. 

War,  T(»  decl     e. 

Water. 

*  Well,  ill  health. 
When .' 
Whence? 
Where? 
White. 

White  man;  American. 
Wicked  ;  l)a<l  heart. 
Wide,  in  e.vtent. 
Wife. 

*  Wihl. 

Wind,  air  in  motion. 
•Winter. 

*Wis(<;  respected  for  wis- 
dom. 

*  Wish ;  desin^  for. 
AVithout;  deprivation. 
Woman;  scjuaw. 
Wonder. 

Work,  To;  to  peii'orin. 
Year. 

*  Yellow. 

Yes,  allirmation. 
You. 


ou'n,.x,.,s  ...o.  .,m  ,.os,T,ON«  :x  („.:«tuu..;.lan.,  . 


\GE. 


N.  H.-'ni.'KCHfincs,  lo  he  ii„li,.„(,.,|  |,,',.,>,.r     .1 
•1.0  .on.nhut.ir.  '"  'l"-''"i  •'  «'>•■*'"'-  's  necessarily  loft  to  the  iiiginm  y  of 


Word  o,  1,1,  a  «  ^,M<.**M  d  by  siKa  :  _ 


DESCRIPTION: 


CONCEPTION  OR  ORIGIN: 


Tvibo : 

Locality :.. 


Observer. 


w 


TVl'KS  OF  IIAXI)  POSITIONS  IN  (IKSTUUIvLANCaJACJi:. 


A— 7Ut  iinlin  "iitwnrd    liciil      II     Fixl,  Iiik  k  (Uitwiucl,  oli.    (,'— CIliii  Ik  il,  wKli  Hiiinili  ex-     D- I'lim  IhmI,   liiill  iif  lliiimli 

i:i,ii(;-l.  Uinii  iiimiinl.  li  iiiliil  jiKiiirinMiin  lliiiii  r,  nuiuvHl   iiiliMli'    iil     Imi" 

UllliKllI,  lllUO  UlllHUIll.  Illll..  I,    ■iWiM"!',     "liwiiiil, 

liaini  (low  II. 


E— nnoUcd.  tliiiiiiliiii.'iiiiist    F— Ilodlic.l,  lluiiiili  iiiri.liiat    G  — l''ln«or«  ri>Btintf  iiisaiii»t     Il-Anliiil,  llnirnli  licnizoiilul 
ilirlnriiiii  lin  ■1I-,  iLiiil;;hl,  niilr  olfminii^ir.oliliiiui-,  IwU   of  Ihuiuli,  buck  up-  iiKiiiiiHl  ciicl  cif  hirrliiincT, 

cdUf  im'waiil.  jii\lni  uulwanl.  wurd.  back  ii|iwiiril. 


I_('l(isccl    A.ciit  foicniiL'cr  J— iMiicliiiu'iT  sti  iilnlit,  lip-  K— I'orcllngrr  oblltiuclv  ex  L  — Tluiiiili  vertical   Imcflii- 

crimkcil    a"aiust    ciiil    of         ri^lil,  iilliora  clnacil,    iiil^o           tciulcil    iiiiwaiil,   otluirs  ^'ci-  liori /.cmt  al,  iillicia 

llmmb,  iipiiHht.iialmuiit-         oulwanl.                                         doscil,  cd;,'!^  outwaul.  cliiscd,  i  d^c  outwaid. 

WiUll. 


JI— I""nnii"crliori7(iulal.  (in-    N— Fii»t  and  scc.piid  liiii;ci'.s  O-Tliuiiili,  lirsl   and   sccciid  I'— !•  iii'icis  and    tliiiiiili  par- 

uMs  and    llMinili  closed,           Hlraiiht  u|nvard  and  scji  liiiiii  rMsiiiaialcd,Hliaii;lit  liall.v  c  nivcd  npward  and 

iiiliii  MiilMaid.                              araliil,  r.  Mi.iinin'.'  IhiL'crs  ii|i«unl.    ivniainin'i     tin-  Hcparalcd,  knuckli'.s  uut- 

and  lliuMili  1  liiscd,   palm  ycrs    cnivril     cd^c    nnl  ward. 

ulltwar.:.  ward. 

70 


I 


TVPKH  (,K  HAMM-osmON.  ,N  <;Ks'n;KK.I.AM)l  AtiK. 


71 


'^-S.I-''>'-";r'-;s.^^^ 


v-y 


.i;;:i:;ir.::^^.«'i;l,!;;,.;r"''  '  t^"^i^i;rt:^;.x::^  - 


»iiiii. 


■llainl  lii.ii/niiial,  Hal,   imiIiu 
(liumwiiril. 


-Iliind  lii.ii/i.niiil,   (iiil,   iiiilni 
iiliwaid. 


Y— Nntiirully  ivliixcil,  iidiniiil- 
iiscil  »li,.,i  ||,ii„l  siiiMilv  i-,,r. 

'""^  "I'll  "illi  no  iiil,rilii)i,al 

lllS|HI.S||iol|. 


N.  J!.~'riii'  posit  inns  an 
(ohIiihv  the  ivl.iiiiiii.s  i.r  III 


an.  ,n  ,.„  as  ,  „,•  a,.p,.„r  (..  a„  „l.s..,.v,.,.  fo.l...  ,,,0  K..st,„vr,  a,„l  a,v  ,l,.sif.n...I 


I.<'.ly,  Whi.l,  MHIst  I.,.  sl,„uM  l,v  ll„.  onlliH-s  (sr,.  shr,.,  „r  ..(, 


'Tl.iM-s  „i.-  .\,:m  V„si,,ox.s")  ,„,l,.s,ii„. 


:;ir:;;:;::;:;:::;;;:-;-:;;:::;:u;:7:;TV'":"- 
irr::r::;:;:-:- 


1:;::;:;:::::::;:::, ;;;::::::::■'  <" ^ -  - ~4'i::;;:::r:;:;:,: 


\./ 


EXA]\IPLES. 


'Word  or  idat  t'xprisKtd  by  siiju  :   To  cut,  willi  an  a.r. 

DKSCliU'TIOX: 

.ill  till-  riulil  li.iiid  tl.iltiiird  i  X  iIkju^ciI  (o  rij;lil  iiislfii.l  nl'  Irl'i^  palm 
""'■*+   iiiiwiiril,  niiivcil  i1ii\mi\n:ii'i1  tn  the  left  .-idc  n'lprali(ll,\   Cicuci  ililli  rent   rlcv!>- 
liwus,  riiil'","  •ii'/h  strciUi'  at  llic  siiiiic  pi. int. 

C'oi.  ■■■;■.. ioi.  (11-  (uifiiii:  Vnnii  the  act  of  I'rllinj;  a  tree. 


f 


-^ 


Word  or  idea  t'.rjircsscd  hi/  siijn :  A  Uc. 
ni:.-;ci;irriiiN: 


^^ 


Tcmcli  till'  Irt't  brrast  nvcr  llir  lirart,  anil  jiass  tlii'       /  / '/       llj""'^ 

lianil  I'nrwaril  from  tlir  mnutli,llii'  two  liisl  tiiii;i  rs  only  /       ',-  y^~^ 

liriiiiXfXti  iiili'ilanilslit;lin,vsrparati'il(l.,  1  — with  I  liumli  (  ./ 

l■c■^lin^;  on  lliinl  fin^rr).  •         ' 

Com  Till  ion  or  origin:  l)onl)li-lon{;niil.  1j,  1. 


I 


N,  1. 


Word  or  idea  c.vprcsscd  hi/  siijn:  To  ride. 

]'\:\vr  llir  Tiist  two  lui';ri-s  of  tlir  rij;lit   liaml.  tlmnili  ixtiiiili'il 
i\,  1  )ilown\v;!iil,  astiaililli' tlii'lirst  t wo  joiniMl  ami  siraiulil  linjiris  of        \.\\'^ 
'    .'{■•■■y-.     \    \     ihi' li  fl  (  T.  li.  sill, ■wisf,  to  till' I'iKlit,  tlii'n  niaki' .si'vi-ral  .--lioi-t  airlinl         Vj  \_ 
[.y'  \r     )V<  ;  U  I    movrmriil>  forwaiii  with  hands  so  joinod 

:\i  [    '■■^'  X-l 


Comrptioii   or  orii;in:    Tlif  Liirsc    ii   'iintrd    .ami    in 
motion. 


T,  1. 

1  lull  id  llms  iudii  ati-  movcmi'iils  to  place  the  hami  ami  ann  in  i)osilion  to  coinniciico 

ihr  >iun  and  not  foiiiiim;  pait  of  it. 

>  Imlicatcs  lommcnccmcnt  of  inovcimMit  in  i-cpivsciitin^c  sisi",  of  pari  of  sinii, 

.......  1  )a  .his  indicate  the  eonisc  of  h.iml  emjdoyeil  in  the  sign. 


K'.prr-ciits  ihc  liTminalioii  ol'  movements. 

TmcI  ill  cniiiieetioii  willidaslics,  slioWH  tile  eoiiiseof  the  latter  when  not   othorwiso 

liillji.    inleni;;illle. 


t 


i 


p^wil"^i^i^p^^lpp 


■^■'mmmmn 


*W" 


